Compositions and methods for recovery of stranded gas and oil

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for using recombinant C 1  metabolizing microorganisms capable of metabolizing sulfur containing compounds and other contaminants to biologically convert sour or acidic natural gas into high-value molecules, and to allow recovery of stranded oil.

STATEMENT REGARDING SEQUENCE LISTING

The Sequence Listing associated with this application is provided in text format in lieu of a paper copy, and is hereby incorporated by reference into the specification. The name of the text file containing the Sequence Listing is 200206 412C1 SEQUENCE LISTING.txt. The text file is 255 KB, was created on Mar.20, 2019, and is being submitted electronically via EFS-Web.

BACKGROUND

Oil deposits are associated, in many cases, with natural gas, which can often be tainted with significant levels of sulfur (referred to as ‘sour gas’) and other contaminants (like CO₂). Natural gas is highly flammable and potentially explosive, hence the gas must be dealt with to allow access to an associated oil deposit. Historically, gas was transferred to a pipeline for sale (requiring scrubbing to remove contaminants as well as additional costs to pressurize the gas for introduction into the pipeline), flared (e.g., as waste gas or smokeless), incinerated, and sometimes simply vented to the atmosphere. However, current environmental regulations prevent the flaring and venting of gas in many locations, especially due to the highly polluting effects of sulfur and other contaminants. Further, the current low price of natural gas means that introducing the gas into a pipeline is often unprofitable because more money will be required to make the gas suitable for the pipeline than can be recovered from its sale. An additional complication is that as new oil drilling and recovery technologies have come online, the majority of new oil deposits are located far from existing gas pipelines. Thus, even if a well operator was willing to spend money to remove the gas, the infrastructure does not exist to enable the operation.

For these and other reasons, there currently exist a number of known oil deposits which cannot be accessed due to the difficulties in mitigating the associated gas deposits. Given the high price of oil, there is a need in the art for alternative methods for converting gas (and associated contaminants) into safe and non-polluting forms in a cost-effective manner. The present disclosure meets such needs, and further provides other related advantages.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In brief, the present disclosure provides a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism having a first exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of metabolizing an S substrate, wherein the recombinant microorganism is capable of assimilating and/or oxidizing the S substrate, a C₁ substrate, or both.

In some aspects, the present disclosure provides a method for treating gas comprising culturing a first recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism with a tainted gas feedstock comprised of a C₁ substrate and an S substrate; wherein the recombinant microorganism includes a first exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of metabolizing the S substrate and the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism assimilates and/or oxidizes each substrate.

In some aspects, the present disclosure provides a system for treating gas comprising a source of gas comprising a C₁ substrate and an S substrate; a bioreactor comprising a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism comprising a first exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of metabolizing the S substrate; and a connector disposed between the gas source and the bioreactor to allow flow of the gas into the bioreactor; wherein the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism assimilates and/or oxidizes each substrate.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a system for recovering stranded gas and/or oil, comprising a mechanism for recovering gas from an underground formation, wherein the gas comprises a C₁ substrate and an S substrate, and the mechanism for recovering comprises a well; a mechanism for assimilating and/or oxidizing at least a portion of each substrate from the recovered gas, the mechanism for assimilating and/or oxidizing comprising a bioreactor, wherein the bioreactor comprises a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism comprising a first exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of metabolizing the S substrate; and a mechanism for recovering the bioremediated stranded oil from the underground formation, wherein the mechanism for recovering comprises a well.

In some embodiments, a polypeptide capable of metabolizing an S substrate is a hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfide: flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, sulfide: quinone oxidoreductase, sulfur dioxygenase, sulfite oxidase, or any combination thereof. For example, the polypeptide capable of metabolizing the S substrate is (1) hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, sulfite oxidase, or both; (2) hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfite oxidase, or both; (3) sulfide:flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, sulfite oxidase, or both; (4) sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase, sulfite oxidase, or both; (5) a hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfide: flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, or sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase, and wherein the endogenous sulfite oxidase activity is increased; or (6) a sulfur oxygenase.

In some embodiments, the polypeptide capable of metabolizing the S substrate is encoded by a nucleic acid wherein the nucleic acid comprises a sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS.:21-54. In some embodiments, the polypeptide capable of metabolizing the S substrate comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS.:55-88.

In some embodiments, the C₁ substrate, the S substrate, or both are converted into a biological material, such as an animal feed, a fertilizer or an oil composition. In other embodiments, the S substrate is oxidized to a sulfate or a sulfide.

In some embodiments, a tainted gas feedstock is a light alkane gas, natural gas, unconventional natural gas, syngas, casinghead gas, wellhead condensate, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, a tainted gas feedstock is an acid gas or a sour gas.

In any of the aforementioned embodiments, a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism may further comprise a second exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a fatty acid producing enzyme, a formaldehyde assimilation enzyme, or a combination thereof; and wherein the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism converts the C₁ substrate into an oil composition. For example, the oil composition produced may be substantially located in the cell membrane of the C₁ metabolizing microorganism.

In certain embodiments, the present disclosure further provides the step of obtaining the oil composition by extraction. In further embodiments, the extracted oil composition is further refined into a fuel, such as jet fuel, diesel fuel, paraffinic kerosene, gasoline, or any combination thereof.

In any of the aforementioned embodiments, the present disclosure further provides a second recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism or cell lysate thereof, wherein the second recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism comprises an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of oxidizing light alkanes; and wherein the second recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism or cell lysate thereof oxidizes the C₁ substrate into an alcohol composition. In some embodiments, the first recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism further comprises a second exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of oxidizing light alkanes such that the recombinant microorganism or cell lysate thereof oxidizes the C₁ substrate into an alcohol composition. In any of these embodiments, a polypeptide capable of oxidizing light alkanes may be a monooxygenase selected from a MMO, AMO, BMO, PMO or P450.

In certain embodiments, the exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of oxidizing light alkanes comprises a sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS.:1-20. In some embodiments, the polypeptide capable of oxidizing light alkanes comprises a sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS.:89-108.

In some embodiments, the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism further comprises a second exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a fatty acid converting enzyme; and wherein the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism converts the C₁ substrate into a C₈-C₂₄ fatty acid derivative comprising a fatty aldehyde, a fatty alcohol, a hydroxy fatty acid, a dicarboxylic acid, or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the fatty acid converting enzyme is a fatty acyl-CoA reductase capable of forming a fatty alcohol. In some embodiments, the fatty acyl-CoA reductase capable of forming a fatty alcohol is FAR, CER4, or Maqu 2220. In certain embodiments, the fatty acid converting enzyme is a fatty acyl-CoA reductase capable of forming a fatty aldehyde. In certain embodiments, the fatty acyl-CoA reductase capable of forming a fatty aldehyde is acrl. In some embodiments, the fatty acid converting enzyme is a carboxylic acid reductase.

In some embodiments, the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism further comprises an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a thioesterase. In certain embodiments, the thioesterase is a tesA lacking a signal peptide, UcFatB or BTE. In certain embodiments, endogenous thioesterase activity is reduced, minimal or abolished as compared to unaltered endogenous thioesterase activity.

In some embodiments, the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism further comprises an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding an acyl-CoA synthetase. In certain embodiments, the acyl-CoA synthetase is FadD, yng1, or FAA2. In certain embodiments, endogenous acyl-CoA synthetase activity is reduced, minimal or abolished as compared to unaltered endogenous acyl-CoA synthetase activity.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure further provides a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a monooxygenase to produce w-hydroxy fatty acid. In certain embodiments, endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase activity is reduced, minimal or abolished as compared to unaltered endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase activity.

In some embodiments, endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase activity is increased or elevated as compared to unaltered endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase activity to produce dicarboxylic acid.

In some embodiments, the C₁ metabolizing microorganism is selected from the group consisting of Methylomonas, Methylobacter, Methylococcus, Methylosinus, Methylocystis, Methylomicrobium, Methanomonas, Methylophilus, Methylobacillus, Methylobacterium, Hyphomicrobium, Xanthobacter, Bacillus, Paracoccus, Nocardia, Arthrobacter, Rhodopseudomonas, and Pseudomonas. In other embodiments, the C₁ metabolizing microorganism is selected from the group consisting of Candida, Yarrowia, Hansenula, Pichia, Torulopsis, and Rhodotorula.

In some embodiments, the C₁ metabolizing microorganism is a bacterium. In certain aspects, the C₁ metabolizing bacterium is a methanotroph or methylotroph. In certain aspects, the C₁ metabolizing bacterium is a methanotroph. In certain embodiments, the methanotroph is a Methylomonas, Methylobacter, Methylococcus, Methylosinus, Methylocystis, Methylomicrobium, Methanomonas, or a combination thereof. In some aspects, the methanotroph is a Methylococcus capsulatus Bath strain, Methylomonas 16a (ATCC PTA 2402), Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b (NRRL B-11,196), Methylosinus sporium (NRRL B-11,197), Methylocystis parvus (NRRL B-11,198), Methylomonas methanica (NRRL B-11,199), Methylomonas albus (NRRL B-11,200), Methylobacter capsulatus (NRRL B-11,201), Methylobacterium organophilum (ATCC 27,886), Methylomonas sp AJ-3670 (FERM P-2400), Methylocella silvestris, Methylocella palustris (ATCC 700799), Methylocella tundrae, Methylocystis daltona strain SB2, Methylocystis bryophila, Methylocapsa aurea KYG, Methylacidiphilum infernorum, Methylibium petroleiphilum, Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum, or a combination thereof. In some aspects, the methanotroph is Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, Methylococcus capsulatus Bath, Methylomonas sp. 16a, Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum, or a high growth variant thereof.

In some embodiments, the C₁ metabolizing bacterium is a methylotroph. In certain embodiments, the methylotroph is Methylobacterium extorquens, Methylobacterium radiotolerans, Methylobacterium populi, Methylobacterium chloromethanicum, Methylobacterium nodulans, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the C₁ metabolizing bacterium is a natural gas, unconventional natural gas, or syngas metabolizing bacterium. In certain embodiments, the syngas metabolizing bacterium is Clostridium, Moorella, Pyrococcus, Eubacterium, Desulfobacterium, Carboxydothermus, Acetogenium, Acetobacterium, Acetoanaerobium, Butyribaceterium, Peptostreptococcus, or a combination thereof In certain aspects, the syngas metabolizing bacterium is Clostridium autoethanogenum, Clostridium ljungdahli, Clostridium ragsdalei, Clostridium carboxydivorans, Butyribacterium methylotrophicum, Clostridium woodii, Clostridium neopropanologen, or a combination thereof. In some aspects, the C₁ metabolizing microorganism is an obligate C₁ metabolizing microorganism.

In certain embodiments, the culture further comprises a heterologous bacterium.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The instant disclosure provides compositions and methods for biologically converting gas, along with any unwanted impurities or contaminants, into useful compositions, such as high-value molecules (e.g., alcohols, fatty acid derivatives, oil composition), biological material (e.g., animal feed), or a combination thereof. For example, oil may be stranded because it is associated with gas, such as tainted gas (e.g., acidic, sour gas). Such oil associated gas can be fed to recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganisms comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding a sulfur utilizing (e.g., sulfide converting) enzyme, to generate one or more different compounds and allow recovery of the previously stranded oil. This new approach allows for the use of methylotroph or methanotroph bacteria as a new host system to bioremediate stranded oil.

By way of background, natural gas from a well may contain a number of undesirable compounds that must be removed or reduced prior to distribution and sale, or the natural gas and any associated contaminants must be removed to access stranded oil. Hydrogen sulfide is one of the most common problems in the gas industry because it is a toxic gas that is very corrosive in the presence of water. Current regulations require that natural gas destined for the fuel market contain no more than 0.25 grains per 100 standard cubic feet or 4 parts per million (ppm) on a volume basis. The most common process to remove hydrogen sulfide involves a two-step treatment: (1) an amine process (also known as the Girdler process, usually using alkanolamines (e.g., monoethanolamine, diethanolamine) to remove hydrogen sulfide from natural gas; Maddox, Gas and Liquid Sweetening, 2^(nd) Edition, Norman, OK: Campbell Petroleum Series, 1974) followed by (2) the Claus process (for elemental sulfur recovery) (Canjur and Manning, Thermodynamic Properties and Reduced Correlations for Gases, Gulf Publishing Co., 1967). But, the hydrophobic elemental sulfur produced by the Claus process requires the use of surfactants since sulfur tends to float and aggregate, which leads to foaming and plugging. Moreover, when the sulfur content is not at sufficient levels or when the CO₂ content is greater than the H₂S content, the Claus process is not economical. The instant disclosure provides compositions and methods for biologically consuming gas associated with oil (or removing other sources of gas), along with any contaminants contained in a gas, to simplify the process for mitigating a major barrier to stranded oil and to eliminate much of the processing equipment needed to scrub tainted gas.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides compositions, methods, and systems for treating gas (e.g., deacidifying, desulfurizing), comprising use of a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism in the presence of an acid gas feedstock, wherein the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism comprises an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of oxidizing or assimilating sulfur. In certain embodiments, the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism may further comprise another exogenous nucleic acid molecule that encodes a biocatalytic enzyme capable of oxidizing light alkanes into various compounds of interest, as described herein.

In another aspect, this disclosure provides a system for treating gas comprising a source of tainted gas comprising an S substrate, a bioreactor comprising a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism (e.g., methanotroph) that includes a first exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of oxidizing or assimilating sulfur, and optionally includes a second exogenous nucleic acid molecule that encodes a biocatalytic enzyme capable of oxidizing light alkanes, and a connector disposed between the gas source and bioreactor to allow flow of the tainted gas into the bioreactor; wherein the recombinant microorganism utilizes the sulfur and light alkanes to produce one or more high-value molecules (e.g., alcohols, fatty acid derivatives), biological material (e.g., animal feed, oil composition), or a combination thereof.

In still a further aspect, the present disclosure provides a system for bioremediation of stranded oil, comprising a well for recovering oil associated gas from an underground formation, wherein the gas comprises at least one acidic compound; a bioreactor comprising a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism having a first exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of oxidizing or assimilating sulfur, wherein the C₁ metabolizing microorganism uses the gas as a carbon and energy source and substantially converts the acidic compounds from the recovered oil associated gas into, for example, compounds of interest; whereby the bioremediation process substantially removes the oil associated gas and allows recovery of previously stranded oil from the underground formation.

Prior to setting forth this disclosure in more detail, it may be helpful to an understanding thereof to provide definitions of certain terms to be used herein. Additional definitions are set forth throughout this disclosure.

In the present description, any concentration range, percentage range, ratio range, or integer range is to be understood to include the value of any integer within the recited range and, when appropriate, fractions thereof (such as one tenth and one hundredth of an integer), unless otherwise indicated. Also, any number range recited herein relating to any physical feature, such as polymer subunits, size or thickness, are to be understood to include any integer within the recited range, unless otherwise indicated. As used herein, the term “about” means±20% of the indicated range, value, or structure, unless otherwise indicated. The term “consisting essentially of” limits the scope of a claim to the specified materials or steps, or to those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed invention. It should be understood that the terms “a” and “an” as used herein refer to “one or more” of the enumerated components. The use of the alternative (e.g., “or”) should be understood to mean either one, both, or any combination thereof of the alternatives. As used herein, the terms “include,” “have” and “comprise” are used synonymously, which terms and variants thereof are intended to be construed as non-limiting.

As used herein, the term “C₁ substrate” or “C₁ compound” refers to any carbon containing molecule or composition that lacks a carbon-carbon bond. C₁ substrates include natural gas, unconventional natural gas, syngas, methane, methanol, formaldehyde, formic acid (formate), carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methylated amines (e.g., methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, etc.), methylated thiols, methyl halogens (e.g., bromomethane, chloromethane, iodomethane, dichloromethane, etc.), cyanide, or any combination thereof.

As used herein, “C₁ metabolizing microorganism” or “C₁ metabolizing microorganism” refers to any microorganism having the ability to use a C₁ substrate as a source of energy or as its primary source of energy or as its sole source of energy and biomass, and may or may not use other carbon substrates (such as sugars and complex carbohydrates) for energy and biomass. For example, a C₁ metabolizing microorganism may oxidize a C₁ substrate, such as methane, natural gas, or methanol. C₁ metabolizing microorganisms include bacteria (such as methanotrophs and methylotrophs) and yeast. In certain embodiments, a C₁ metabolizing microorganism does not include a photosynthetic microorganism, such as algae. In certain embodiments, a C₁ metabolizing microorganism will be an “obligate C₁ metabolizing microorganism,” meaning its primary source of energy are C₁ substrates. In further embodiments, a C₁ metabolizing microorganism (e.g., methanotroph) will be cultured in the presence of a C₁ substrate feedstock (i.e., using the C₁ substrate as a source of energy).

As used herein, the term “methanotroph,” “methanotrophic bacterium” or “methanotrophic bacteria” refers to a methylotrophic bacteria capable of utilizing C₁ substrates, such as methane or unconventional natural gas, as its primary or sole carbon and energy source. As used herein, “methanotrophic bacteria” include “obligate methanotrophic bacteria” that can only utilize C₁ substrates for carbon and energy sources and “facultative methanotrophic bacteria” that are naturally able to use multi-carbon substrates, such as acetate, pyruvate, succinate, malate, or ethanol, in addition to C₁ substrates as their carbon and energy source.

As used herein, the term “methylotroph” or “methylotrophic bacteria” refers to any bacteria capable of oxidizing organic compounds that do not contain carbon-carbon bonds. In certain embodiments, a methylotrophic bacterium may be a methanotroph. For example, “methanotrophic bacteria” refers to any methylotrophic bacteria that have the ability to oxidize methane as it primary source of carbon and energy. Exemplary methanotrophic bacteria include Methylomonas, Methylobacter, Methylococcus, Methylosinus, Methylocystis, Methylomicrobium, or Methanomonas. In certain other embodiments, the methylotrophic bacterium is an “obligate methylotrophic bacterium,” which refers to bacteria that are limited to the use of C₁ substrates for the generation of energy.

As used herein, “gas” refers to one or mixture of light alkane gases (light alkane refers to saturated or unsaturated C₁-C₆ alkanes optionally substituted), such as methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane; natural gas; unconventional natural gas; synthesis gas (syngas); casinghead gas; wellhead condensate; or other hydrocarbon gas taken from the earth or water, whether produced by conventional or unconventional methods, or whether produced from a gas well or a well also producing oil, distillate or condensate or both, or other products. “Casinghead gas” means gas or vapor indigenous to an oil stratum and produced from the stratum with oil. “Condensate” means liquid hydrocarbon that is or can be recovered from gas by a separator, or may be liquid hydrocarbon recovered from gas by refrigeration or absorption and separated by a fractionating process.

As used herein, “tainted gas” refers to gas having unwanted contaminant(s), such as CO₂ or H₂S or both as may be found in acid gas, H₂S as found in sour gas, or the like. “Sour gas” means gas having at least one “S substrate,” wherein an S substrate may be any sulfur-containing compound associated with or mixed in gas, such as hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), thiosulfate, sulfite, carbon disulfide, elemental sulfur, other organosulfur compounds (e.g., mercaptans such as thiols (R—SH, where R is a hydrocarbon), thiol carboxylic acids (RCO—SH), dithio acids (RCS—SH), or the like. In a certain embodiments, more than 50% of sulfur-containing compounds of an “S substrate” will be comprised of H₂S. In a certain embodiments, sour gas comprises more than 0.25 grains (gr) of H₂S per 100 standard cubic feet (scf) or 6 parts per million (ppm) on a volume basis, or 10 gr of sulfur per 100 scf, or about 0.1% to about 25% sulfur content. A “standard cubic foot” is a measure of quantity (not volume) at 70° F. and one atmosphere (atm =14.7 pounds per square inch (psi) absolute). “Sweet gas” means gas other than acid gas, sour gas, or casinghead gas (e.g., gas treated to remove unwanted contaminants). In certain embodiments, sweet gas will contain 0.25 gr or less (4 ppm or less) of H₂S or other organosulfur compounds, or have a heating value of at least 920 to 1,000 Btu/scf.

As used herein, “methane” refers to the simplest (CO alkane compound with the chemical formula CH₄, which is a colorless and odorless gas at room temperature and pressure. Sources of methane include natural sources (such as natural gas fields), “unconventional natural gas” sources (such as shale gas or coal bed methane, wherein methane content will vary from about 75% to about 97%, depending on the source), and biological sources where it is synthesized by, for example, methanogenic microorganisms (biogenic natural gas), and industrial or laboratory synthesis. Methane includes pure methane, substantially purified compositions, such as “pipeline quality natural gas” or “dry natural gas”, which is 95-98% percent methane, and unpurified compositions, such as “wet natural gas”, wherein other hydrocarbons have not yet been removed and methane comprises more than 60% of the composition.

As used herein, “natural gas” refers to naturally occurring gas mixtures that have formed in porous reservoirs and can be accessed by conventional processes (e.g., drilling, waterflooding) and are primarily made up of methane, but may also have other light alkane gases (e.g., ethane, propane, butane, pentane), carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide, or the like, or any combination thereof.

As used herein, “unconventional natural gas” refers to a naturally occurring gas mixtures created in formations with low permeability that must be accessed by unconventional methods, such as hydraulic fracturing, horizontal drilling or directional drilling. Exemplary unconventional natural gas deposits include tight gas sands formed in sandstone or carbonate, coal bed methane formed in coal deposits and adsorbed in coal particles, shale gas formed in fine-grained shale rock and adsorbed in clay particles or held within small pores or microfractures, methane hydrates that are a crystalline combination of natural gas and water formed at low temperature and high pressure in places such as under the oceans and permafrost. Unconventional natural gas tends to have a more variable composition, including having potentially higher levels of ethane, propane, butane, CO₂, or any combination thereof, as compared to natural gas.

As used herein, “synthesis gas” or “syngas” refers to a mixture of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H₂), which may be produced, for example, by steam reforming of natural gas or liquid hydrocarbons, or by gasification of coal, biomass or waste. Syngas may also include methane, CO₂, H₂S, and other gases in smaller quantities relative to CO and H₂.

As used herein, “nucleic acid molecule,” also known as a polynucleotide, refers to a polymeric compound comprised of covalently linked subunits called nucleotides. Nucleic acid molecules include polyribonucleic acid (RNA), polydeoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), both of which may be single or double stranded. DNA includes cDNA, genomic DNA, synthetic DNA, semi-synthetic DNA, or the like.

As used herein, “biological material” refers to organic material having a biological origin, which may include whole cells, lysed cells, extracellular material, or the like. For example, the material harvested from a cultured microorganism (e.g., bacterial or yeast culture) is considered the biological material, which can include secreted products. Such a culture may be considered a renewable resource.

As used herein, “oil composition” refers to the lipid content of a biological material, including fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids, polyhyroxyakanoates, isoprenes, terpenes, or the like. An oil composition contained in biological material may be extracted from the rest of the biological material by methods known in the art, such as by hexane extraction. In addition, an “oil composition” may be found in any one or more areas of a culture, including the cell membrane, cell cytoplasm, inclusion bodies, secreted or excreted in the culture medium, or any combination thereof In certain embodiments, an oil composition functions as a fuel precursor since it can be refined into a fuel, such as jet fuel, diesel fuel, paraffinic kerosene, gasoline, or any combination thereof.

As used herein, the term “host” refers to a cell or microorganism (e.g., methanotroph) that may be genetically modified with an exogenous nucleic acid molecule to produce a polypeptide of interest (e.g., sulfide oxidoreductase, monooxygenase, cysteine synthase). In certain embodiments, a host cell may optionally already possess other genetic modifications that confer desired properties related or unrelated to the exogenous polypeptide being expressed (e.g., sulfur oxidation as disclosed herein). For example, a host cell may possess genetic modifications conferring additional or enhanced sulfite oxidase activity, additional or enhanced light alkane oxidation activity, high growth, tolerance of contaminants or particular culture conditions (e.g., H₂S tolerance, biocide resistance), ability to metabolize additional carbon substrates, or ability to synthesize desirable products or intermediates.

For example, an exogenous nucleic acid molecule may encode a polypeptide capable of oxidizing or assimilating sulfur. Exemplary polypeptides capable of oxidizing or assimilating sulfur include hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase (also known as sulfite reductase (NADPH) or cysJ/cysl), hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (also known as sulfite reductase (ferredoxin) or SIR), sulfide:flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase (also known as sulfide-cytochrome-c reductase (flavocytochrome c) or flavocytochrome c sulfide dehydrogenase or FCC), sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (also known as sulfide quinone reductase or SQR), sulfur dioxygenase, sulfur oxygenase (also known as sulfur oxygenase/reductase or SOR), or the like, which may be useful in converting, for example, hydrogen sulfide into elemental sulfur, sulfite, sulfate, or any combination thereof.

As used herein, the term “recombinant” or “non-natural” refers to an organism, microorganism, cell, nucleic acid molecule, or vector that includes at least one genetic alternation or has been modified by introduction of an exogenous nucleic acid molecule, or refers to a cell that has been altered such that the expression of an endogenous nucleic acid molecule or gene can be controlled, where such alterations or modifications are introduced by genetic engineering. Genetic alterations include, for example, modifications introducing expressible nucleic acid molecules encoding proteins or enzymes, or other nucleic acid molecule additions, deletions, substitutions or other functional disruption of the cell's genetic material. Such modifications include, for example, coding regions and functional fragments thereof for heterologous or homologous polypeptides for the referenced species. Additional modifications include, for example, non-coding regulatory regions in which the modifications alter expression of a gene or operon.

Recombinant methods for expression of exogenous or heterologous nucleic acids in microbial organisms are well known in the art. Such methods can be found described in, for example, Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Third Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York (2001); and Ausubel et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley and Sons, Baltimore, Md. (1999). Exemplary exogenous proteins or enzymes to be expressed include those involved in sulfur oxidation (e.g., hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfide: flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, sulfide: quinone oxidoreductase, sulfur dioxygenase, sulfur oxygenase, sulfite oxidase, or any combination thereof) or in sulfur assimilation (e.g., sulfate adenylyltransferase, sulfite reductase). Genetic modifications to nucleic acid molecules encoding enzymes, or functional fragments thereof, can confer a biochemical or metabolic capability to a recombinant cell that is altered from its naturally occurring state.

As used herein, “transformation” refers to the introduction of a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., exogenous or heterologous nucleic acid molecule) into a host cell. The transformed host cell may carry the exogenous or heterologous nucleic acid molecule extra-chromosomally or integrated in the chromosome. Integration into a host cell genome and self-replicating vectors generally result in genetically stable inheritance of the transformed nucleic acid molecule. Host cells containing the transformed nucleic acids are referred to as “recombinant” or “non-naturally occurring” or “genetically engineered” or “transformed” or “transgenic” cells (e.g., bacteria).

As used herein, the term “endogenous” or “native” refers to a gene, protein, compound or activity that is normally present in a host cell.

As used herein, “heterologous” or “exogenous” nucleic acid molecule, construct or sequence refers to a nucleic acid molecule or portion of a nucleic acid molecule that is not native to a host cell, a nucleic acid molecule or portion of a nucleic acid molecule native to a host cell that has been altered or mutated, or a nucleic acid molecule with an altered expression as compared to the native expression levels under similar conditions. For example, a heterologous control sequence (e.g., promoter, enhancer) may be used to regulate expression of a native gene or nucleic acid molecule in a way that is different from the way a native gene or nucleic acid molecule is normally expressed in nature or culture. In certain embodiments, heterologous or exogenous nucleic acid molecules may not be endogenous to a host cell or host genome, but instead may have been added to a host cell by conjugation, transformation, transfection, electroporation, or the like, wherein the added molecule may integrate into the host genome or can exist as extra-chromosomal genetic material (e.g., as a plasmid or other self replicating vector). In addition, “heterologous” can refer to an enzyme, protein or other activity that is different or altered from that found endogenous to a host cell, or is not native to a host cell but instead is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule introduced into the host cell. The term “homologous” or “homolog” refers to a molecule or activity found in or derived from a host cell, species or strain. For example, a heterologous or exogenous nucleic acid molecule may be homologous to a native host cell gene, but may have an altered expression level or have a different sequence or both.

In certain embodiments, more than one heterologous or exogenous nucleic acid molecule can be introduced into a host cell as separate nucleic acid molecules, as a polycistronic nucleic acid molecule, as a single nucleic acid molecule encoding a fusion protein, or any combination thereof, and still be considered as more than one heterologous or exogenous nucleic acid. For example, as disclosed herein, a C₁ metabolizing microorganism can be modified to express two or more heterologous or exogenous nucleic acid molecules encoding desired sulfur and light alkane oxidizing components (e.g., hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase or hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, optionally a sulfite oxidase, optionally a monooxygenase, optionally a fatty acid converting enzyme). When two or more exogenous nucleic acid molecules are introduced into a host C₁ metabolizing microorganism, it is understood that the two more exogenous nucleic acid molecules can be introduced as a single nucleic acid molecule (e.g., on a single vector), on separate vectors, integrated into the host chromosome at a single site or multiple sites, and each of these embodiments is still to be considered two or more exogenous nucleic acid molecules. Thus, the number of referenced heterologous nucleic acid molecules or protein activities refers to the number of encoding nucleic acid molecules or the number of protein activities, not the number of separate nucleic acid molecules introduced into a host cell.

The term “chimeric” refers to any nucleic acid molecule or protein that is not endogenous and comprises sequences joined or linked together that are not normally found joined or linked together in nature. For example, a chimeric nucleic acid molecule may comprise regulatory sequences and coding sequences that are derived from different sources, or regulatory sequences and coding sequences that are derived from the same source but arranged in a manner different than that found in nature.

The “percent identity” between two or more nucleic acid sequences is a function of the number of identical positions shared by the sequences (i.e., % identity=number of identical positions/total number of positions×100), taking into account the number of gaps, and the length of each gap that needs to be introduced to optimize alignment of two or more sequences. The comparison of sequences and determination of percent identity between two or more sequences can be accomplished using a mathematical algorithm, such as BLAST and Gapped BLAST programs at their default parameters (e.g., Altschul et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215:403, 1990; see also BLASTN at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST).

A “conservative substitution” is recognized in the art as a substitution of one amino acid for another amino acid that has similar properties. Exemplary conservative substitutions are well known in the art (see, e.g., WO 97/09433, page 10, published Mar. 13, 1997; Lehninger, Biochemistry, Second Edition; Worth Publishers, Inc. NY:N.Y. (1975), pp. 71-77; Lewin, Genes IV, Oxford University Press, NY and Cell Press, Cambridge, Mass. (1990), p. 8).

“Inhibit” or “inhibited,” as used herein, refers to an alteration, reduction, down regulation or abrogation, directly or indirectly, in the expression of a target gene or in the activity of a target molecule (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase) relative to a control, endogenous or reference molecule, wherein the alteration, reduction, down regulation or abrogation is statistically, biologically, industrially, or clinically significant.

As used herein, the term “derivative” refers to a modification of a compound by chemical or biological means, with or without an enzyme, which modified compound is structurally similar to a parent compound and (actually or theoretically) derivable from that parent compound. A derivative may have different chemical, biological or physical properties from the parent compound, such as being more hydrophilic or having altered reactivity as compared to the parent compound. Derivatization (i.e., modification) may involve substitution of one or more moieties within the molecule (e.g., a change in functional group). For example, a hydrogen may be substituted with a halogen, such as fluorine or chlorine, or a hydroxyl group (—OH) may be replaced with a carboxylic acid moiety (—COOH). Other exemplary derivatizations include glycosylation, alkylation, acylation, acetylation, ubiqutination, esterification, and amidation.

The term “derivative” also refers to all solvates, for example, hydrates or adducts (e.g., adducts with alcohols), active metabolites, and salts of a parent compound. The type of salt depends on the nature of the moieties within the compound. For example, acidic groups, such as carboxylic acid groups, can form alkali metal salts or alkaline earth metal salts (e.g., sodium salts, potassium salts, magnesium salts, calcium salts, and also salts with physiologically tolerable quaternary ammonium ions and acid addition salts with ammonia and physiologically tolerable organic amines such as, for example, triethylamine, ethanolamine or tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)amine). Basic groups can form acid addition salts with, for example, inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid, or with organic carboxylic acids or sulfonic acids such as acetic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, benzoic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid, methanesulfonic acid or p-toluenesulfonic acid. Compounds that simultaneously contain a basic group and an acidic group, for example, a carboxyl group in addition to basic nitrogen atoms, can be present as zwitterions. Salts can be obtained by customary methods known to those skilled in the art, for example, by combining a compound with an inorganic or organic acid or base in a solvent or diluent, or from other salts by cation exchange or anion exchange.

C₁ Metabolizing Microorganisms—Host Cells

The C₁ metabolizing microorganisms of the instant disclosure may be a natural strain, strain adapted (e.g., performing fermentation to select for strains with improved sulfite oxidase activity, improved growth rates, or increased total biomass yield compared to the parent strain), or recombinantly modified to treat gas (e.g., desulfurize), convert alkanes or alkenes to their corresponding alcohol or epoxide, to have increased sulfite oxidase activity, to have increased growth rates, or any combination thereof. In certain preferred embodiments, the C₁ metabolizing microorganisms are not photosynthetic microorganisms, such as algae or plants.

In certain embodiments, the present disclosure provides C₁ metabolizing microorganisms that are prokaryotes or bacteria, such as Methylomonas, Methylobacter, Methylococcus, Methylosinus, Methylocystis, Methylomicrobium, Methanomonas, Methylophilus, Methylobacillus, Methylobacterium, Hyphomicrobium, Xanthobacter, Bacillus, Paracoccus, Nocardia, Arthrobacter, Rhodopseudomonas, or Pseudomonas.

In further embodiments, the C₁ metabolizing bacteria are a methanotroph or a methylotroph. Exemplary methanotrophs include Methylomonas, Methylobacter, Methylococcus, Methylosinus, Methylocystis, Methylomicrobium, Methanomonas, Methylocella, or a combination thereof. Exemplary methylotrophs include Methylobacterium extorquens, Methylobacterium radiotolerans, Methylobacterium populi, Methylobacterium chloromethanicum, Methylobacterium nodulans, or a combination thereof.

In certain embodiments, methanotrophic bacteria are genetically engineered with the capability to sweeten gas or convert C₁ substrate feedstock into, for example, alcohols or biomass. Methanotrophic bacteria have the ability to oxidize methane as a carbon and energy source. Methanotrophic bacteria are classified into three groups based on their carbon assimilation pathways and internal membrane structure: type I (gamma proteobacteria), type II (alpha proteobacteria, and type X (gamma proteobacteria). Type I methanotrophs use the ribulose monophosphate (RuMP) pathway for carbon assimilation whereas type II methanotrophs use the serine pathway. Type X methanotrophs use the RuMP pathway but also express low levels of enzymes of the serine pathway. Methanotrophic bacteria include obligate methanotrophs, which can only utilize C₁ substrates for carbon and energy sources, and facultative methanotrophs, which naturally have the ability to utilize some multi-carbon substrates as a sole carbon and energy source.

Exemplary facultative methanotrophs include some species of Methylocella, Methylocystis, and Methylocapsa (e.g., Methylocella silvestris, Methylocella palustris, Methylocella tundrae, Methylocystis daltona strain SB2, Methylocystis bryophila, and Methylocapsa aurea KYG), Methylobacterium organophilum (ATCC 27,886), Methylibium petrolelphilum, or high growth variants thereof. Exemplary obligate methanotrophic bacteria include Methylococcus capsulatus Bath, Methylomonas 16a (ATCC PTA 2402), Methylosinusi trichosporium OB3b (NRRL B-11,196), Methylosinus sporium (NRRL B-11,197), Methylocystis parvus (NRRL B-11,198), Methylomonas methanica (NRRL B-11,199), Methylomonas albus (NRRL B-11,200), Methylobacter capsulatus (NRRL B-11,201), Methylomonas flagellata sp AJ-3670 (FERM P-2400), Methylacidiphilum infernorum, Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum, Methylomicrobium alcahphilum, or high growth variants thereof.

In still further embodiments, the present disclosure provides C₁ metabolizing microorganisms that are syngas metabolizing bacteria, such as Clostridium, Moorella, Pyrococcus, Eubacterium, Desulfobacterium, Carboxydothermus, Acetogenium, Acetobacterium, Acetoanaerobium, Butyribaceterium, Peptostreptococcus, or a combination thereof. Exemplary methylotrophs include Clostridium autoethanogenum, Clostridium ljungdahli, Clostridium ragsdalei, Clostridium carboxydivorans, Butyribacterium methylotrophicum, Clostridium woodii, Clostridium neopropanologen, or a combination thereof.

In certain other embodiments, C₁ metabolizing microorganisms are eukaryotes such as yeast, including Candida, Yarrowia, Hansenula, Pichia, Torulopsis, or Rhodotorula.

In certain other embodiments, the C₁ metabolizing microorganism is an obligate C₁ metabolizing microorganism, such as an obligate methanotroph or methylotroph.

In certain embodiments, a non-natural C₁ metabolizing microorganism is a recombinant methanotroph comprising a heterologous polynucleotide encoding a hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfide: quinone oxidoreductase, sulfide:flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, or sulfur dioxygenase. In certain embodiments, a non-natural C₁ metabolizing microorganism is a recombinant methanotroph comprising a heterologous polynucleotide encoding a sulfur oxygenase (e.g., SOR).

In certain embodiments, a non-natural C₁ metabolizing microorganism is a recombinant methanotroph comprising a first heterologous polynucleotide encoding a hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase (e.g., cysJ/cysl), and optionally a second heterologous nucleic acid molecule that encodes a biocatalytic enzyme capable of oxidizing light alkanes, such as an alkane monooxygenase (e.g., AMO, BMO, PMO, MMO), alkene monooxygenase or alkane hydroxylase, or a cell lysate thereof; or optionally a second heterologous nucleic acid molecule that encodes a fatty acid converting enzyme capable of converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into a C₈-C₂₄ fatty acid derivative comprising a fatty aldehyde, a fatty alcohol, a fatty ester wax, a hydroxy fatty acid, a dicarboxylic acid, or a combination thereof or optionally a second heterologous nucleic acid molecule encoding a fatty acid producing enzyme, a formaldehyde assimilation enzyme, or a combination thereof, capable of converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into an oil composition; or any combination thereof.

In certain embodiments, a non-natural C₁ metabolizing microorganism is a recombinant methanotroph comprising a first heterologous polynucleotide encoding a hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (SIR), and optionally a second heterologous nucleic acid molecule that encodes a biocatalytic enzyme capable of oxidizing light alkanes, such as an alkane monooxygenase (e.g., AMO, BMO, PMO, MMO), alkene monooxygenase or alkane hydroxylase, or a cell lysate thereof; or optionally a second heterologous nucleic acid molecule that encodes a fatty acid converting enzyme capable of converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into a C₈-C₂₄ fatty acid derivative comprising a fatty aldehyde, a fatty alcohol, a fatty ester wax, a hydroxy fatty acid, a dicarboxylic acid, or a combination thereof; or optionally a second heterologous nucleic acid molecule encoding a fatty acid producing enzyme, a formaldehyde assimilation enzyme, or a combination thereof, capable of converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into an oil composition; or any combination thereof.

In certain embodiments, a non-natural C₁ metabolizing microorganism is a recombinant methanotroph comprising a first heterologous polynucleotide encoding a sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQR), and optionally a second heterologous nucleic acid molecule that encodes a biocatalytic enzyme capable of oxidizing light alkanes, such as an alkane monooxygenase (e.g., AMO, BMO, PMO, MMO), alkene monooxygenase or alkane hydroxylase, or a cell lysate thereof; or optionally a second heterologous nucleic acid molecule that encodes a fatty acid converting enzyme capable of converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into a C₈-C₂₄ fatty acid derivative comprising a fatty aldehyde, a fatty alcohol, a fatty ester wax, a hydroxy fatty acid, a dicarboxylic acid, or a combination thereof; or optionally a second heterologous nucleic acid molecule encoding a fatty acid producing enzyme, a formaldehyde assimilation enzyme, or a combination thereof, capable of converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into an oil composition; or any combination thereof.

In certain embodiments, a non-natural C₁ metabolizing microorganism is a recombinant methanotroph comprising a first heterologous polynucleotide encoding a sulfide:flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase (FCC), and optionally a second heterologous nucleic acid molecule that encodes a biocatalytic enzyme capable of oxidizing light alkanes, such as an alkane monooxygenase (e.g., AMO, BMO, PMO, MMO), alkene monooxygenase or alkane hydroxylase, or a cell lysate thereof; or optionally a second heterologous nucleic acid molecule that encodes a fatty acid converting enzyme capable of converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into a C₈-C₂₄ fatty acid derivative comprising a fatty aldehyde, a fatty alcohol, a fatty ester wax, a hydroxy fatty acid, a dicarboxylic acid, or a combination thereof; or optionally a second heterologous nucleic acid molecule encoding a fatty acid producing enzyme, a formaldehyde assimilation enzyme, or a combination thereof, capable of converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into an oil composition; or any combination thereof.

In certain embodiments, a non-natural C₁ metabolizing microorganism is a recombinant methanotroph comprising a first heterologous polynucleotide encoding a sulfur dioxygenase, and optionally a second heterologous nucleic acid molecule that encodes a biocatalytic enzyme capable of oxidizing light alkanes, such as an alkane monooxygenase (e.g., AMO, BMO, PMO, MMO), alkene monooxygenase or alkane hydroxylase, or a cell lysate thereof; or optionally a second heterologous nucleic acid molecule that encodes a fatty acid converting enzyme capable of converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into a C₈-C₂₄ fatty acid derivative comprising a fatty aldehyde, a fatty alcohol, a fatty ester wax, a hydroxy fatty acid, a dicarboxylic acid, or a combination thereof; or optionally a second heterologous nucleic acid molecule encoding a fatty acid producing enzyme, a formaldehyde assimilation enzyme, or a combination thereof, capable of converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into an oil composition; or any combination thereof.

In certain embodiments, a non-natural C₁ metabolizing microorganism is a recombinant methanotroph comprising a first heterologous polynucleotide encoding a sulfur oxygenase, and optionally a second heterologous nucleic acid molecule that encodes a biocatalytic enzyme capable of oxidizing light alkanes, such as an alkane monooxygenase (e.g., AMO, BMO, PMO, MMO), alkene monooxygenase or alkane hydroxylase, or a cell lysate thereof; or optionally a second heterologous nucleic acid molecule that encodes a fatty acid converting enzyme capable of converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into a C₈-C₂₄ fatty acid derivative comprising a fatty aldehyde, a fatty alcohol, a fatty ester wax, a hydroxy fatty acid, a dicarboxylic acid, or a combination thereof; or optionally a second heterologous nucleic acid molecule encoding a fatty acid producing enzyme, a formaldehyde assimilation enzyme, or a combination thereof, capable of converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into an oil composition; or any combination thereof.

In any of the aforementioned embodiments, a non-natural C₁ metabolizing microorganism is a recombinant methanotroph that encodes a biocatalytic enzyme capable of oxidizing light alkanes, such as an alkane monooxygenase (e.g., AMO, BMO, PMO, MMO), alkene monooxygenase or alkane hydroxylase, or a cell lysate thereof, further comprises a genetic modification to attenuate, inhibit, substantially reduce or functionally delete an alcohol dehydrogenase activity when the compound or composition to be produced comprises alcohol.

In any of the aforementioned embodiments, the C₁ metabolizing microorganism may be a C₁ metabolizing non-photosynthetic microorganism.

Codon Optimization

Expression of recombinant proteins may be difficult outside their original host. For example, variation in codon usage bias has been observed across different species of bacteria (Sharp et al., Nucl. Acids. Res. 33:1141, 2005). Over-expression of recombinant proteins even within their native host may also be difficult. In certain embodiments, nucleic acid molecules (e.g., nucleic acids encoding sulfur or alkane oxidizing enzymes) to be introduced into a host as described herein may be subjected to codon optimization prior to introduction into the host to ensure protein expression is enhanced. Codon optimization refers to alteration of codons in genes or coding regions of nucleic acids before transformation to reflect the typical codon usage of the host without altering the polypeptide encoded by the DNA molecule. Codon optimization methods for optimum gene expression in heterologous hosts have been previously described (see, e.g., Welch et al., PLoS One 4:e7002, 2009; Gustafsson et al., Trends Biotechnol. 22:346, 2004; Wu et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 35:D76, 2007; Villalobos et al., BMC Bioinformatics 7:285, 2006; U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2011/0111413 and 2008/0292918; disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety).

In some embodiments, exogenous nucleic acid molecules of this disclosure are codon optimized for C₁ metabolizing microorganisms, such as bacteria. In certain embodiments, exogenous nucleic acid molecules of this disclosure are codon optimized for methanotrophs and methylotrophs as described herein. In particular embodiments, exogenous nucleic acid molecules of this disclosure are codon optimized for Methylococcus capsulatus Bath.

Exemplary codon optimized nucleic acid molecules for expression in a C₁ metabolizing microorganism are provided in SEQ ID NOS.:1-54.

Similarly, exogenous nucleic acid molecules of this disclosure encoding polypeptide variants may be designed using the phylogenetic-based methods described in the references noted above (U.S. Pat. No. 8,005,620; Gustafsson; Welch etal.; Villalobos etal.; Minshull et al.). Each variant polypeptide generated by these methods will retain at least 50% activity (preferably 100% or more activity) and have a polypeptide sequence that is at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% identical, or 100% identical to a reference or parental wild-type polypeptide sequence. In certain embodiments, variant polypeptides will include at least one amino acid substitution (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 or more or up to 20, 25, or 30 substitutions) at a pre-determined position relative to a reference or parental wild-type enzyme, provided that a variant retains an activity of interest (e.g., sulfur oxidation or assimilation, light alkane oxidation, fatty acid production, fatty acid conversion, formaldehyde assimilation).

Transformation Methods

Any of the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganisms or methanotrophic bacteria described herein may be transformed to comprise at least one exogenous nucleic acid to provide the host with a new or enhanced activity (e.g., enzymatic activity) or may be genetically modified to remove or substantially reduce an endogenous gene function using any of a variety of methods known in the art.

Transformation refers to the transfer of a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., exogenous nucleic acid) into the genome of a host cell, resulting in genetically stable inheritance. Host cells containing the transformed nucleic acid molecules are referred to as “non-naturally occurring” or “recombinant” or “transformed” or “transgenic” cells. Expression systems and expression vectors useful for the expression of heterologous nucleic acids in C₁ metabolizing microorganisms or methanotrophic bacteria are known.

Electroporation of C₁ metabolizing bacteria has been previously described in, for example, Toyama et al., FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 166:1, 1998; Kim and Wood, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 48:105, 1997; Yoshida et al., Biotechnol. Lett. 23:787, 2001, and U.S. Patent Appl. Pub. No. 2008/0026005.

Bacterial conjugation, which refers to a particular type of transformation involving direct contact of donor and recipient cells, is more frequently used for the transfer of nucleic acids into C₁ metabolizing bacteria. Bacterial conjugation involves mixing “donor” and “recipient” cells together in close contact with each other. Conjugation occurs by formation of cytoplasmic connections between donor and recipient bacteria, with unidirectional transfer of newly synthesized donor nucleic acid molecules into the recipient cells. A recipient in a conjugation reaction is any cell that can accept nucleic acids through horizontal transfer from a donor bacterium. A donor in a conjugation reaction is a bacterium that contains a conjugative plasmid, conjugative transposon, or mobilized plasmid. The physical transfer of the donor plasmid can occur through a self-transmissible plasmid or with the assistance of a “helper” plasmid. Conjugations involving C₁ metabolizing bacteria have been previously described in Stolyar et al., Mikrobiologiya 64:686, 1995; Motoyama et al., Appl. Micro. Biotech. 42:67, 1994; Lloyd et al., Arch. Microbiol. 171:364, 1999; PCT Publication No. WO 02/18617; and Ali et al., Microbiol. 152:2931, 2006.

Expression of heterologous nucleic acids in C₁ metabolizing bacteria is known in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,818,424, U.S. Patent Appl. Pub. No. 2003/0003528). Mu transposon based transformation of methylotrophic bacteria has been described (Akhverdyan et al., Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 91:857, 2011). A mini-Tn7 transposon system for single and multicopy expression of heterologous genes without insertional inactivation of host genes in Methylobacterium has been described (U.S. Patent Appl. Pub. No. 2008/0026005).

Various methods for inactivating, knocking-out, or deleting endogenous gene function in C₁ metabolizing bacteria may be used. Allelic exchange using suicide vectors to construct deletion/insertional mutants in slow growing C1 metabolizing bacteria have also been described in, for example, Toyama and Lidstrom, Microbiol. 144:183, 1998; Stolyar et al., Microbiol. 145:1235, 1999; Ali et al., Microbiol. 152:2931, 2006; Van Dien et al., Microbiol. 149:601, 2003.

Suitable homologous or heterologous promoters for high expression of exogenous nucleic acids may be utilized. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,098,005 describes the use of promoters that are highly expressed in the presence of methane or methanol for heterologous gene expression in Cl metabolizing bacteria. Additional promoters that may be used include deoxy-xylulose phosphate synthase methanol dehydrogenase operon promoter (Springer et al., FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 160:119, 1998); the promoter for PHA synthesis (Foellner et al., Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 40:284, 1993); or promoters identified from native plasmid in methylotrophs (EP 296484). Non-native promoters include the lac operon Plac promoter (Toyama et al., Microbiol. 143:595, 1997) or a hybrid promoter such as Ptrc (Brosius et al., Gene 27:161, 1984). In certain embodiments, promoters or codon optimization are used for high constitutive expression of exogenous nucleic acids encoding sulfur utilization pathway enzymes in host methanotrophic bacteria. Regulated expression of an exogenous nucleic acid in a host methanotrophic bacterium may also be utilized. In certain embodiments, regulated expression of exogenous nucleic acids encoding sulfur utilization enzymes may be desirable to optimize growth rate of the non-naturally occurring methanotrophic bacteria. Controlled expression of nucleic acid molecules encoding sulfur utilization enzymes for response to the presence of an S substrate may improve bacterial growth in a variety of carbon source conditions. For example, an inducible/regulatable system of recombinant protein expression in methylotrophic and methanotrophic bacteria as described in, for example, U.S. Patent Appl. No. US 2010/0221813 may be used.

C₁ Metabolizing Microorganisms—Recombinant

The C₁ metabolizing microorganisms of this disclosure can be recombinantly modified to include nucleic acid molecules that express or over-express polypeptides of interest, which results in recombinant microorganisms useful for converting (e.g., assimilating, oxidizing) various components of gas or tainted gas (e.g., acid or sour natural gas) into other useful compounds.

For example, a C₁ metabolizing microorganism (such as a methanotroph or methylotroph) can be recombinantly transformed to produce a polypeptide capable of metabolizing an S substrate (e.g., sulfide oxidoreductase), recombinantly transformed to produce an alcohol composition (e.g., alkyl monooxygenase or hydroxylase), recombinantly transformed to produce fatty acid derivatives from light alkanes (e.g., fatty acyl-CoA reductase, carboxylic acid reductase, and optionally a thioesterase, acyl-CoA synthetase, monooxygenase), recombinantly transformed to produce an oil composition (e.g., a fatty acid producing enzyme, a formaldehyde assimilation enzyme, or a combination thereof), recombinantly transformed or genetically modified to optionally increase production of native sulfite oxidase, or any combination thereof. Exemplary amino acid sequences suitable for production by a C₁-metabolizing microorganism are provided in SEQ ID NOS.:55-108.

In certain embodiments, any of the recombinant polypeptides produced by C₁ metabolizing microorganisms as described herein may be stable in the presence of a chemical or environmental stress. The modifications to C₁ metabolizing microorganisms described herein can be through genomic alterations, addition of extrachromosomal recombinant expression systems, or a combination thereof.

By way of background, several biological pathways exist for the oxidation or assimilation of sulfur. Different steps in the pathway are catalyzed by various enzymes and, therefore, each of these may be over-expressed to increase the amount of enzyme and thus drive the oxidation or assimilation of sulfur. Nucleic acid molecules encoding enzymes required for the pathway may also be recombinantly added to a C₁ metabolizing microorganism lacking such enzymes. Finally, steps that would compete with the pathway leading to oxidation or assimilation of sulfur can be attenuated or blocked in order to maximize the removal of sulfur from, for example, sour gas. Elemental sulfur can be produced by partial oxidation of sulfide (Equation 1), which can then be removed by sedimentation. Complete oxidation of sulfide results in the production of sulfate (Equation 2), which is innocuous and water soluble.

2HS⁻+O₂→2S⁰+2OH⁻  (1)

2HS⁻+4O₂→2SO₄ ⁻+2H⁺  (2)

Inorganic reduced sulfur compounds serve as electron donors in many phototrophic and chemotrophic bacteria (Friedrich, Adv. Microb. Physiol. 39:235, 1998). Hydrogen sulfide, the most reduced form of inorganic sulfur, occurs in hydrothermal vents and in sediments, where it is generated by sulfate reducing bacteria (Jannasch, Autotrophic Bacteria, Schlegel and Bowien (eds.) Springer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, pages 147-167, 1989; Trudinger, Early Organic Evolution, Schidlowski (ed.) Springer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, pages 367-377, 1992). Although hydrogen sulfide is toxic for most organisms, mainly because of the inhibition of aerobic respiration (Gosselin et al., Hydrogen sulfide In: Clinical toxicology of commercial products, 5th ed. Baltimore, Md., Williams and Wilkins, pages 111-198-111-202, 1984), it serves as an electron donor for the energy generating systems of photo- and chemolithotrophic bacteria (Kelly et al., Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 71:95, 1997; Stetter, FEMS Microbiol. Rev. 18:149, 1996).

In bacteria, the transport of electrons from sulfide to NAD⁺ is mediated by membrane bound electron transport. The electrons from sulfide enter the chain either at the level of quinone via a sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQR; EC 1.8.5.4), or at the level of c type cytochromes via a sulfide:cytochrome c oxidoreductase (flavocytochrome c, FCC; EC 1.8.2.3). In contrast, to assimilate sulfur into biosynthetic pathways (e.g., cysteine synthesis), hydrogen sulfide is required and therefore is produced by reduction of sulfate. Sulfate is first reduced to sulfite (see, e.g., Kopriva et al., J. Biol. Chem. 277:21786, 2002), which in turn can be further reduced to sulfide by sulfite reductases (Lillig, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 392:303, 2001). Two types of sulfite reductase enzymes are known—hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase (also known as sulfite reductase (NADPH); EC 1.8.1.2) and hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (also known as sulfite reductase (ferredoxin) or SIR, EC 1.8.7.1). But, the reduction of sulfite to sulfide is a reversible reaction and, therefore, can instead be an oxidation reaction of sulfide to sulfite, which in turn can be further oxidized to sulfate.

Any sulfide that is produced or is present for use by a C₁ metabolizing microorganism can enter the cysteine biosynthesis pathway, wherein cysteine synthase incorporates H₂S into O-acetyl-serine to produce cysteine. Alternatively, sulfide can enter the homocysteine biosynthesis pathway wherein O-acetylhomoserine sulfhydrylase incorporates H₂S into O-acetylhomoserine to produce homocysteine, which can be further converted into methionine by methionine synthase (cobalamin dependent or independent) or homocysteine methyltransferase.

An alternate pathway for inorganic sulfur (including elemental sulfur) oxidation is through a pathway found in several sulfur-oxidizing organisms, including the facultative chemolithotroph Starkeya novella, thermoacidophilic Sulfobacillus sibiricus, and acidophilic Thiobacilli, such as Thiobacillus thioparus or Thiobacillus denitrificans. Another group is Acidithiobacilii, which are bacteria capable of catalyzing the oxidation of inorganic sulfur compounds under acidic conditions and ambient temperatures. Several members of Acidithiobacillus (e.g., Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans) and Acidiphilium (e.g., Acidiphilium acidophilum) can grow chemolithoautotrophically with sulfide, elemental sulfur, thiosulfate or polythionates (Hirai shi et al., Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1389, 1998; Kelly and Wood, Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 50:511, 2000). Another exemplary group having this pathway are the Acidianus spp. (e.g., Acidianus ambivalens, Acidianus brierleyi), which are obligately chemolithotrophic, facultatively aerobic archaea isolated from acidothermal springs. This alternate pathway comprises the use of sulfur dioxygenase or glutathione-dependent sulfur dioxygenase (EC 1.13.11.18) to oxidize sulfide via S-sulfanylglutathione (GSSH), a product of the non-enzymatic reaction of glutathione disulfide (GSSG) with H₂S.

Another pathway for inorganic sulfur oxidation involves sulfur oxygenase reductase (SOR, EC 1.13.11.55), which is found in thermophilic microorganisms. SOR simultaneously catalyzes oxidation and reduction of elemental sulfur to produce sulfite, thiosulfate, and sulfide in the presence of molecular oxygen. Exemplary organisms that produce this enzyme include Acidianus ambivalens, Acidianus tengchongensis, Aquifex aeolicus, Acidithiobacillus caldus, Halothiobacillus neopolitanus, Sulfolobus metallicus, Sulfolobus tokodaii, Sulfobacillus acidophillus, and Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans

In certain embodiments, C₁ metabolizing microorganisms and C₁ metabolizing non-photosynthetic microorganisms of this disclosure may be engineered to express or overproduce hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase (also known as sulfite reductase (NADPH) or cysJ/cysI; EC 1.8.1.2), including both subunits (α and β). One advantage of using this enzyme is that the sulfide to sulfate reaction will generate reducing equivalents that can provide energy for the cells to grow faster and for carbon fixation.

For example, to express or overproduce sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, one or more genes from Bacillus subtilis (cysJ and cysI), Escherichia coli (cysJ and cysI), or Saccharomyces cerevisiae (met10 and mets) can be introduced into and expressed or overexpressed in a C₁ metabolizing microorganism or a C₁ metabolizing non-photosynthetic microorganism (e.g., non-natural methanotroph bacteria), thereby producing or overproducing exogenous sulfite reductase (NADPH) alpha and beta subunit polypeptides or functional fragments thereof. Other sources of sulfite reductase (NADPH) alpha and beta subunit polypeptides or functional fragments thereof can be from Rhodobacter capsulatus, Shewanella putrefaciens, or Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. In certain embodiments, sulfite reductase (NADPH) alpha and beta subunit polypeptides for use in the compositions and methods disclosed herein are from Rhodobacter capsulatus SB 1003 (Genbank Accession Nos. YP_003579141.1 [α] and YP_003577746.1 MA Escherichia coli K-12 substrain MG1655 (Genbank Accession No. AAA69273.1 [a] and AAA69274.1 Shewanella putrefaciens CN-32 (Genbank Accession No. ABP76777.1 [α] and ABP76776.1 WA Bacillus subtilis MB73/2 (Genbank Accession No. EME08247.1 [α] and EME08683.1 WA or Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 23270 (Genbank Accession No. YP_002427483.1[α] and YP_002427484.1 [β]).

In certain embodiments, sulfite reductase (NADPH) alpha and beta subunit polypeptides or functional fragments thereof are derived or obtained from Rhodobacter capsulatus SB 1003 or Escherichia coli K-12 substrain MG1655 and have an amino acid sequence that is at least at least 75%, at least 80% identical, at least 85% identical, at least 90% identical, at least 91% identical, at least 92% identical, at least 93% identical, at least 94% identical, at least 95% identical, at least 96% identical, at least 97% identical, at least 98% identical, or at least 99% identical to the sequence set forth in Genbank Accession Nos. YP_003579141.1 [α] and YP_003577746.1 [β] or AAA69273.1 [α] and AAA69274.1 [β], respectively, or a functional fragments thereof. In another embodiment, the recombinant encoded sulfite reductase (NADPH) alpha and beta subunit polypeptides have amino acid sequences that are identical to the sequences set forth in Genbank Accession Nos. YP_003579141.1 [α] and YP_003577746.1 [β] or AAA69273.1 [α] and AAA69274.1 [β] or comprises a consensus sequence of known sulfite reductase (NADPH) α-subunits and a consensus sequence of known sulfite reductase (NADPH) β-subunits.

In certain embodiments, the sulfite reductase (NADPH) alpha and beta subunit polypeptides or functional fragments thereof are encoded by a nucleic acid sequence that has been codon optimized. The codon optimized sulfite reductase (NADPH) alpha and beta subunit polypeptides or functional fragments thereof may be encoded by nucleic acids comprising any one of SEQ ID NOS.:21-35. In certain embodiment, the recombinant encoded sulfite reductase (NADPH) alpha and beta subunit polypeptides have amino acid sequences that are identical to the sequences set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS.:55-69. In some embodiments, the recombinant encoded sulfite reductase (NADPH) alpha and beta subunit polypeptides have amino acid sequences that are at least 75%, at least 80% identical, at least 85% identical, at least 90% identical, at least 91% identical, at least 92% identical, at least 93% identical, at least 94% identical, at least 95% identical, at least 96% identical, at least 97% identical, at least 98% identical, or at least 99% identical to the sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS.:55-69.

In certain embodiments, C₁ metabolizing microorganisms and C₁ metabolizing non-photosynthetic microorganisms as described herein may be engineered to express or overproduce hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (SIR, EC 1.8.7.1). One advantage of using this enzyme is that the sulfide to sulfate reaction will generate reducing equivalents that can provide energy for the cells to grow faster and for carbon fixation.

For example, a nucleic acid molecule from Cyanidioschyzon merolae encoding a SIR enzyme can be introduced into and expressed or overexpressed in a C₁ metabolizing microorganism or a C₁ metabolizing non-photosynthetic microorganism (e.g., non-natural methanotroph bacteria), thereby producing or overproducing exogenous SIR polypeptides or functional fragments thereof. Other sources of exogenous SIR polypeptides or functional fragments thereof can be from Cyanidioschyzon merolae, Aphonathece halophytica, Oscillatoria nigro-viridis, Pseudomonas putida, or Anabaena cyhndrica. In certain embodiments, an SIR enzyme for use in the compositions and methods disclosed herein is from Cyanidioschyzon merolae 10D (Genbank Accession No. BAM79554.1), Oscillatoria nigro-viridis PCC 7112 (Genbank Accession No. YP_007113209.1), Pseudomonas putida GB-1 (Genbank Accession No. YP_001669502.1), Anabaena cylindrica PCC 7220 (Genbank Accession No. YP 007159823.1), or Aphonathece halophytica 7418 (Genbank Accession No. YP_007168206.1).

In certain embodiments, a SIR polypeptide or functional fragment thereof is derived or obtained from Cyanidioschyzon merolae 10D or Oscillatoria nigro-viridis PCC 7112 and has an amino acid sequence that is at least at least 75%, at least 80% identical, at least 85% identical, at least 90% identical, at least 91% identical, at least 92% identical, at least 93% identical, at least 94% identical, at least 95% identical, at least 96% identical, at least 97% identical, at least 98% identical, or at least 99% identical to the sequence set forth in Genbank Accession No. BAM79554.1 or YP 007113209.1, respectively, or a functional fragment thereof. In another embodiment, the recombinant encoded SIR polypeptide has an amino acid sequence that is identical to the sequence set forth in Genbank Accession No. BAM79554.1 or YP_007113209.1 or comprises a consensus sequence of known SIR polypeptide sequences.

In certain embodiments, C₁ metabolizing microorganisms and C₁ metabolizing non-photosynthetic microorganisms as described herein may be engineered to express or overproduce sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQR; EC 1.8.5.4). The SQR polypeptide appears to transfer electrons from sulfide directly into the quinone pool. One advantage of using this enzyme is that the sulfide can be oxidized to elemental sulfate and will likely precipitate, which may be in the form of intracellular globules or granules as observed in native sulfur metabolizing microorganisms. Also, the native cofactor (quinone) can be used to provide the reducing power to the cells.

Exemplary SQR polypeptides (encoded by sqr gene) or functional fragments thereof can be found in Rhodobacter capsulatus, Shewanella putrefaciens, Paracoccus denitrificans, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, Aquifex aeolicus, Oscillatoria limnetica, Chlorobaculum tepidum, Chlorobium limicola, Anabaena ATCC 7120, and Aphonathece halophytica. SQR polypeptide sequences are publicly available and exemplary sequences are provided in FIG. 3 of Griesbeck et al., Recent Res. Dev. Microbiol. 4:179, 2000, which figure and sequences therein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. In certain embodiments, an SQR enzyme for use in the compositions and methods disclosed herein is from Rhodobacter capsulatus SB 1003 (Genbank Accession No. YP_003576957.1), Oscillatoria limnetica ‘Solar Lake’ (Genbank Accession No. AAF72962.1), Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 23270 (Genbank Accession No. YP_002424774.1), Aquifex aeolicus VF5 (Genbank Accession No. AAC07903.1), Aphonathece halophytica 7418 (Genbank Accession No. YP_007167227.1).

In certain embodiments, an SQR polypeptide or functional fragment thereof is derived or obtained from Rhodobacter capsulatus SB 1003 or Oscillatoria limnetica ‘Solar Lake’ and has an amino acid sequence that is at least at least 75%, at least 80% identical, at least 85% identical, at least 90% identical, at least 91% identical, at least 92% identical, at least 93% identical, at least 94% identical, at least 95% identical, at least 96% identical, at least 97% identical, at least 98% identical, or at least 99% identical to the sequence set forth in Genbank Accession No. YP_003576957.1 or AAF72962.1, respectively, or a functional fragment thereof. In another embodiment, the recombinant encoded SQR enzyme has an amino acid sequence that is identical to the sequence set forth in Genbank Accession No. YP_003576957.1 or AAF72962.1, or comprises a consensus sequence of known SQR polypeptide sequences.

In certain embodiments, the SQR polypeptide or functional fragments thereof is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence that has been codon optimized. The codon optimized SQR polypeptide or functional fragments thereof may be encoded by nucleic acids comprising any one of SEQ ID NOS.:36-40. In certain embodiment, the recombinant encoded SQR polypeptide has an amino acid sequence that is identical to the sequence set forth any one of SEQ ID NOS.:70-74. In some embodiments, the recombinant encoded SQR polypeptide has an amino acid sequences that is at least 75%, at least 80% identical, at least 85% identical, at least 90% identical, at least 91% identical, at least 92% identical, at least 93% identical, at least 94% identical, at least 95% identical, at least 96% identical, at least 97% identical, at least 98% identical, or at least 99% identical to the sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS.:70-74.

In certain embodiments, C₁ metabolizing microorganisms and C₁ metabolizing non-photosynthetic microorganisms as described herein may be engineered to express or overproduce sulfide:cytochrome c oxidoreductase (flavocytochrome c sulfide dehydrogenase, FCC; EC 1.8.2.3). The sulfide dehydrogenases are generally either soluble periplasmic heterodimeric enzymes having a flavoprotein subunit and a heme subunit, or are monomeric membrane-bound enzymes having a single heme c₅₅₄ subunit. The FCC polypeptide appears to shuttle electrons from sulfide to a cytochrome c. One advantage of using this enzyme is that the sulfide can be oxidized to elemental sulfate and will likely precipitate, which may be in the form of intracellular globules or granules as observed in native sulfur metabolizing microorganisms. Also, the native cofactors (cytochromes) can be used to provide the reducing power to the cells.

Exemplary polypeptides (encoded by fcc gene) can be found in Allochromatium vinosum, Thiobacillus spp. W5, Chlorobium limicola, Ectothiorhodospira shaposhnikovii, Chlorobaculum tepidum, Thiobacillus denitrificans, or Thiocystis violascens. Representative FCC polypeptide sequences are publicly available, and an exemplary polypeptide sequence from Allochromatium vinosum is provided in FIG. 3 of Griesbeck et al., Recent Res. Dev. Microbiol. 4:179, 2000, which figure and sequence therein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. In certain embodiments, FCC flavoprotein and heme subunit polypeptides for use in the compositions and methods disclosed herein are from Allochromatium vinosum DSM 180 (Genbank Accession No. AAB86576.1 [flavo] and AAA23316.1 [heme]), Chlorobium limicola (Genbank Accession No. ACD89119.1 [flavo] and AAL68891.1 [heme]), Chlorobaculum tepidum TLS (Genbank Accession No. AAM72249.1 [flavo] and Q8KAS5.1 [heme]), Thiobacillus denitrificans ATCC 25259 (Genbank Accession No. YP_315793.1 [flavo] and YP_315792.1 [heme]), or Thiocystis violascens DSM 198 (Genbank Accession No. YP_006416402.1 [flavo] and YP_006416403.1 [heme]).

In certain embodiments, FCC flavoprotein and heme subunit polypeptides or functional fragment thereof are derived or obtained from Allochromatium vinosum DSM 180 or Thiocystis violascens DSM 198 and have an amino acid sequence that is at least at least 75%, at least 80% identical, at least 85% identical, at least 90% identical, at least 91% identical, at least 92% identical, at least 93% identical, at least 94% identical, at least 95% identical, at least 96% identical, at least 97% identical, at least 98% identical, or at least 99% identical to the sequence set forth in Genbank Accession Nos. AAB86576.1 [flavo] and AAA23316.1 [heme] or YP_006416402.1 [flavo] and YP_006416403.1 [heme], respectively, or a functional fragment thereof. In another embodiment, the recombinant encoded FCC flavoprotein and heme subunit polypeptides have amino acid sequences that are identical to the sequence set forth in Genbank Accession Nos. AAB86576.1 [flavo] and AAA23316.1 [heme] or YP_006416402.1 [flavo] and YP_006416403.1 [heme], or comprise a consensus sequence of known FCC flavo subunits and a consensus sequence of known FCC heme subunits, respectively.

In certain embodiments, the FCC flavoprotein and heme subunit polypeptides or functional fragments thereof are encoded by a nucleic acid sequence that has been codon optimized. The codon optimized FCC flavoprotein and heme subunit polypeptides or functional fragments thereof may be encoded by nucleic acids comprising any one of SEQ ID NOS.:41-48. In certain embodiment, the recombinant encoded FCC flavoprotein and heme subunit polypeptides have amino acid sequences that are identical to the sequences set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS.:75-84. In some embodiments, the recombinant encoded FCC flavoprotein and heme subunit polypeptides have amino acid sequences that are at least 75%, at least 80% identical, at least 85% identical, at least 90% identical, at least 91% identical, at least 92% identical, at least 93% identical, at least 94% identical, at least 95% identical, at least 96% identical, at least 97% identical, at least 98% identical, or at least 99% identical to the sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS.:75-84.

In certain embodiments, C₁ metabolizing microorganisms and C₁ metabolizing non-photosynthetic microorganisms as described herein may be engineered to express or overproduce sulfur oxygenase (sulfur oxygenase/reductase, SOR). Exemplary SOR polypeptides for use in the microorganisms, compositions and methods disclosed herein include those from Acidianus tegchongensis (Genbank Accession No. AAK58572.1), Sulfolobus metallicus (Genbank Accession No. ABN04222.1), Acidithiobacillus caldus ATCC 51756 (Genbank Accession No. AIA55075.1), Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans (Genbank Accession No. WP_028963476.1), or any combination thereof.

In certain embodiments, SOR polypeptides or functional fragment thereof are derived or obtained from Acidianus tegchongensis or Sulfolobus metallicus and have an amino acid sequence that is at least at least 75%, at least 80% identical, at least 85% identical, at least 90% identical, at least 91% identical, at least 92% identical, at least 93% identical, at least 94% identical, at least 95% identical, at least 96% identical, at least 97% identical, at least 98% identical, or at least 99% identical to the sequence set forth in Genbank Accession Nos. AAK58572.1 or ABN04222.1, respectively, or a functional fragment thereof. In another embodiment, the recombinant encoded SOR polypeptides have amino acid sequences that are identical to the sequence set forth in Genbank Accession Nos. AAK58572.1 or ABN04222.1 or comprise a consensus sequence of known SOR polypeptides, respectively.

In certain embodiments, the SOR polypeptides or functional fragments thereof are encoded by a nucleic acid sequence that has been codon optimized. The codon optimized SOR polypeptides or functional fragments thereof may be encoded by nucleic acids comprising any one of SEQ ID NOS.:51-54. In certain embodiment, the recombinant encoded SOR polypeptides have amino acid sequences that are identical to the sequences set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS.:85-88. In some embodiments, the SOR polypeptides have amino acid sequences that are at least 75%, at least 80% identical, at least 85% identical, at least 90% identical, at least 91% identical, at least 92% identical, at least 93% identical, at least 94% identical, at least 95% identical, at least 96% identical, at least 97% identical, at least 98% identical, or at least 99% identical to the sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS.:85-88.

In some embodiments, the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism is expressing a polypeptide capable of metabolizing an S substrate that is a hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfide: flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase, sulfur dioxygenase, or any combination thereof, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase or has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity.

In certain embodiments, the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism is expressing a polypeptide capable of metabolizing an S substrate that is a sulfide:flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase, and sulfur dioxygenase, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase or has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity.

In some embodiments, the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism is expressing a polypeptide capable of metabolizing an S substrate that is a sulfur oxygenase, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase or has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity.

In some embodiments, the recombinant microorganism is expressing a polypeptide capable of metabolizing an S substrate that is hydrogen-sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase or has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity.

In some embodiments, the recombinant microorganism is expressing a polypeptide capable of metabolizing an S substrate that is hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase or has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity.

In some embodiments, the recombinant microorganism is expressing a polypeptide capable of metabolizing an S substrate that is sulfide:flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase or has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity.

In some embodiments, the recombinant microorganism is expressing a polypeptide capable of metabolizing an S substrate that is sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase, has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity, or is expressing a sulfide:flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase encoded by an exogenous nucleic acid molecule.

In some embodiments, the recombinant microorganism is expressing a polypeptide capable of metabolizing an S substrate that is sulfur dioxygenase, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase, has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity, is expressing a sulfide:flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase encoded by an exogenous nucleic acid molecule, or is expressing a sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase encoded by an exogenous nucleic acid molecule.

In any of the aforementioned embodiments, a polypeptide capable of metabolizing an S substrate is stable in the presence of a chemical or environmental stress.

In further aspects, several additional different modifications can be made to a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism or a recombinant C₁ metabolizing non-photosynthetic microorganism as described herein, either in combination with the sulfur oxidizing or assimilation activity or individually, to utilize the C₁ substrate feedstock to obtain , for example, light alkane conversion to alcohol; light alkane conversion to a C₈-C₂₄ fatty aldehyde, fatty alcohol, fatty ester wax, hydroxy fatty acid, dicarboxylic acid, or any combination thereof light alkane conversion to biological material (including oil composition); or any combination thereof.

For example, a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism of the present disclosure may further comprise an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of oxidizing light alkanes, such as a biocatalytic enzyme with monooxygenase or hydroxylase activity, to convert C₁ substrates contained in gas into high-value molecules (e.g., alcohol, fatty acid derivatives, fuel precursor). In certain embodiments, the polypeptide capable of oxidizing light alkanes is stable in the presence of a chemical or environmental stress. In further embodiments, a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism of the present disclosure may be engineered to have at least one inactivated alcohol dehydrogenase or at least one alcohol dehydrogenase with reduced activity to facilitate specific oxidation of light hydrocarbons, including mixed gas substrates, into an alcohol composition or a mixed alcohol composition.

Monooxygenases, expressed by methanotrophic bacteria, utilize an enzyme-associated metal center to split the O—O bond of dioxygen (O₂), wherein one oxygen atom is reduced to form H₂O, while the other oxygen atom attacks a C—H bond of a light alkane (e.g., methane) and is incorporated into the light alkane to form the corresponding alcohol (e.g., methanol will be produced from methane). A reducing agent, such as formate, duroquinol, and hydrogen gas (H₂) (see, e.g., Shiemke et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 321:421, 1995; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0203456), can help complete this oxidation reaction and regenerate the monooxygenase.

Exemplary monooxygenases include methane monooxygenases (MMOs, which may be soluble, sMMO, or membrane-bound, pMMO), ammonia monooxygenases (AMO), butane monooxygenases (BMOs, which may be soluble, sBMO, or membrane-bound, pBMO, and optionally associate with a hydroxylase, reductase or chaperonin-like protein), propane monooxygenase (PMO, which may be soluble, sPMO or associated with P450, referred to as PMO:P450), alkene monooxygenases, alkane hydroxylases, or P450 (also known as cytochrome P450 or CYP). Moreover, monooxygenases can utilize a broad range of substrates beyond methane, including ethane, propane, butane or pentane, into their corresponding alcohols (see, e.g., Jiang et al., Biochem. Engineering J. 49:277, 2010; Colby etal., Biochem. J. 165:395, 1977; Hyman et al., Applied Environ. Microbiol. 54:3187, 1988; Chen et al., Protein Eng. Design Selection 25:171, 2012; Chen, 2011, Directed evolution of cytochrome P450 for small alkane hydroxylation. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology). Additionally, monooxygenases can oxidize propene into propene oxide, but-1-ene into 1,2-epoxybutane, 1,3-butadiene into 1,2-epoxybut-3-ene, cis-but-2-ene into cis-2,3-epoxybutane and crotonaldehyde, and trans-but-2-ene into trans-2,3-epoxybutane, crotonyl alcohol and crotonaldehyde. sMMO can oxidize ethane, propane, butane, hexane, octane, and 2-methylpropane into their associated alcohols, as well as oxide ethene into epoxyethane, propene into epoxypropane, but-1-ene into 1,2-epoxybutane, cis-but-2-ene into cis-2,3-epoxybutane and cis-2-buten-l-ol, and trans-but-2-ene into trans-2,3-epoxybutane and trans-2-buten-1-ol. Also, alkene monooxygenases can catalyze aromatic monohydroxylation of benzene, toluene, and phenol (see, e.g., Zhou et al. pplied Environ. Microbiol. 65:1589-95, 1999).

Numerous monooxygenases and P450 genes have been sequenced and characterized (see, e.g., Stainthorpe et al., Arch. Microbiol. 152:154, 1989; Stainthorpe et al., Gene 91:27, 1990; Coufal et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 267:2174, 2000; Cardy et al., Mol. Microbiol. 5:335, 1991; Cardy et al., Arch. Microbiol. 156:477, 1991; Semrau et al., J. Bacteriol. 177:3071, 1995; Stolvar et al., Microbiol. 145:1235, 1999; Gilbert et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66:966, 2000; Bodrossy et al., Applied Environ. Microbiol. 61:3549, 1995; Bodrossy et al., FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 170:335, 1999; Lin et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71:6458, 2005; Hou et al., Biol. Direct. 3:26, 2008; McTavish et al., J. Bacteriol. 175:2436, 1993; Norton et al., Arch. Microbiol. 177:139, 2002; Nelson et al., Pharmacogenetics 6:1, 1996; Funhoff et al., J. Bacteriol. 188:5220, 2006; Kubota et al., Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 69:2421, 2005). Exemplary pMMO amino acid sequences and AMO amino acid sequences are provided in International Patent Publication No. WO 2014/062703, which sequences are incorporated herein in their entirety.

In certain embodiments, MMO, BMO, PMO, AMO, alkene monooxygenase, alkane hydroxylase, or P450 polypeptides or functional fragments thereof are encoded by a nucleic acid sequence that has been codon optimized. A codon optimized MMO, BMO, PMO, AMO, alkene monooxygenase, alkane hydroxylase, or P450 polypeptide, or functional fragment thereof, may be encoded by nucleic acids as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS.:1-20. In certain embodiments, a MMO, BMO, PMO, AMO, alkene monooxygenase, alkane hydroxylase, or P450 polypeptide as used herein has an amino acid sequence that is identical to the corresponding sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS.:89-108. In some embodiments, a MMO, BMO, PMO, AMO, alkene monooxygenase, alkane hydroxylase, or P450 polypeptide has an amino acid sequence that is at least 75%, at least 80% identical, at least 85% identical, at least 90% identical, at least 91% identical, at least 92% identical, at least 93% identical, at least 94% identical, at least 95% identical, at least 96% identical, at least 97% identical, at least 98% identical, or at least 99% identical to the corresponding sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS.:89-108.

As provided herein, methods for oxidizing hydrocarbons, including converting alkanes into their corresponding alcohols or alkenes into their corresponding epoxides, comprises providing a genetically engineered C₁ microorganism or cell lysate thereof in the presence of air or oxygen and a reducing agent. In certain embodiments, a gas substrate comprising a light alkane (e.g., methane, ethane, propane, butane) is converted into a corresponding alcohol, a light alkene (e.g., ethylene, propylene, butylene, butadiene) is converted into a corresponding epoxide, or a mixed gas composition comprising light alkanes, alkenes, or both are converted into their corresponding alcohol(s), their corresponding epoxide(s), or mixture of alcohols and epoxides, respectively.

In certain embodiments, there are provided recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganisms or C₁ metabolizing non-photosynthetic microorganisms, or a cell lysate thereof, comprising an exogenous nucleic acid molecule that encodes a polypeptide capable of oxidizing light alkanes, such as a methane monooxygenase (MMO), an ammonia monooxygenases (AMO), or P450 enzyme.

In further embodiments, any one of the aforementioned C₁ metabolizing microorganisms or C₁ metabolizing non-photosynthetic microorganisms, or a cell lysate thereof, comprising an exogenous hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfide: quinone oxidoreductase, sulfide: flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, sulfur dioxygenase, or any combination thereof, may further comprise a second exogenous nucleic acid molecule that encodes a polypeptide capable of oxidizing light alkanes, such as a methane monooxygenase (MMO), a butane monooxygenase (BMO), a propane monooxygenase (PMO), an ammonia monooxygenase (AMO), an alkane hydroxylase, or a P450 enzyme.

In further embodiments, any one of the aforementioned C₁ metabolizing microorganisms or C₁ metabolizing non-photosynthetic microorganisms, or a cell lysate thereof, comprising an exogenous sulfur oxygenase, may further comprise a second exogenous nucleic acid molecule that encodes a polypeptide capable of oxidizing light alkanes, such as a methane monooxygenase (MMO), a butane monooxygenase (BMO), a propane monooxygenase (PMO), an ammonia monooxygenase (AMO), an alkane hydroxylase, or a P450 enzyme.

An enzyme with monooxygenase activity may comprise multiple components. In certain embodiments, a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide with monooxygenase activity (capable of oxidizing light alkanes) may comprise polynucleotides encoding a gene cluster or operon for an enzyme with methane monooxygenase activity, or for a single subunit that constitutes the active site for the enzyme. By way of example, where an enzyme with methane monooxygenase activity is pMMO, a nucleic acid may comprise polynucleotides comprising apmoCAB gene cluster or a pmoA gene (β subunit). In another example, where an enzyme with methane monooxygenase activity is sMMO, a nucleic acid may comprise polynucleotides comprising a mmoXYZ gene cluster or a mmoX gene (α subunit).

The introduction of an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide capable of oxidizing light alkanes, such as a monooxygenase, can confer upon non-naturally occurring microorganisms provided herein the capability of converting light alkanes into their corresponding alcohols (e.g., converting ethane, propane, and butane into their corresponding alcohols, ethanol, propanol, and butanol, respectively), or converting alkenes into their corresponding epoxides (e.g., converting ethylene, propylene, butene, and butadiene into their corresponding epoxides ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butene oxide, and butadiene 1,2 oxide respectively).

In certain embodiments, methane is converted into methanol, ethane is converted into ethanol, propane is converted into propanol, butane is converted into butanol, pentane is converted into pentanol, or any combination thereof. In further embodiments, butane is converted into butanol and the butanol is comprised substantially of n-butanol (i.e n-butanol comprises at least 50% or more of the butanol product). In still further embodiments, propane is converted into propanol and the propanol is comprised substantially of n-propanol (i.e n-propanol comprises at least 50% or more of the propanol product).

In certain embodiments, recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganisms or C₁ metabolizing non-photosynthetic microorganisms, or a cell lysate thereof, of this disclosure may be capable of converting ethylene, propylene, butene, butadiene into their corresponding epoxides, ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butene oxide, and butadiene 1,2 oxide respectively.

In certain embodiments, provided are recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganisms or C₁ metabolizing non-photosynthetic microorganisms, or a cell lysate thereof, of this disclosure capable of converting a mixed alkane gas into a mixed alcohol composition. A mixed alkane gas may be wet (unprocessed) natural gas or a partially separated derivative thereof (e.g., natural gas liquids separated from wet natural gas during processing). Natural gas liquids may include ethane, propane, butane, or a combination thereof. In certain embodiments, provided are non-naturally occurring C₁ metabolizing microorganisms or C₁ metabolizing non-photosynthetic microorganisms capable of converting light alkanes (i.e., any combination of two or more alkanes selected from methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane, or any combination thereof) into their corresponding alcohols, which produces a mixed alcohol composition.

In certain embodiments, provided are recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganisms or C₁ metabolizing non-photosynthetic microorganisms, or a cell lysate thereof, of this disclosure capable of converting a mixed alkene gas into a mixed epoxide product. A mixed alkene gas may be a gas stream from a petroleum cracker or a partially separated derivative thereof. In certain embodiments, provided are recombinant microorganisms of this disclosure capable of converting light alkenes (i.e., any combination of two or more alkenes selected from ethylene, propylene, butene, butadiene, or any combination thereof) into their corresponding epoxides.

By way of background, alcohol or epoxide products, including methanol, produced by enzymes with monooxygenase or hyrdroxylase activity may be oxidized further into unwanted products by endogenous alcohol dehydrogenases (see, e.g., Anthony and Zatman, Biochem. J. 96:808, 1965; Lu et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 132:15451, 2010). Recombinant microorganisms provided herein may exhibit poor yields due to downstream metabolism of methanol, other alcohol products (e.g., ethanol, propanol, and butanol), or epoxides. By inactivating at least one alcohol dehydrogenase (e.g., methanol dehydrogenase), reduction of alcohol or epoxide product loss and improvement of product yield may be achieved.

In certain embodiments, a recombinant microorganism or cell lysate thereof of this disclosure is capable of using a reducing agent to convert the light alkane gas to an alcohol composition. In one embodiment, the reducing agent is hydrogen (H₂) gas. For example, an alkane monooxygenase, alkene monooxygenase, alkane hydroxylases, or combination thereof expressed in the recombinant microorganism or cell lysate thereof is capable of directly using H₂ as a reducing agent to convert light alkane gas to an alcohol composition. In certain embodiments, an alkane monooxygenase is pMMO, sMMO, AMO, pBMO, sBMO, sPMO, PMO:P450, P450, or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the alkane monooxygenase is a methane monooxygenase, such as a pMMO, sMMO, or P450. In certain embodiments, the chemical or environmental stress is a temperature at least 60° C., a pH of at least 9, or a pH of no more than 5. In certain embodiments, the alcohol dehydrogenase is inactivated by the chemical or environmental stress, such as a temperature at least 60° C., a pH of at least 9, or a pH of no more than 5, or the alcohol dehydrogenase is inactivated by genetic modification. In certain embodiments, the at least one inactivated alcohol dehydrogenase comprises a methanol dehydrogenase.

Any one of the aforementioned C₁ metabolizing microorganisms or C₁ metabolizing non-photosynthetic microorganisms comprising an exogenous hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfide: quinone oxidoreductase, sulfide:flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, sulfur dioxygenase, sulfur oxygenase, cysteine synthase, O-acetylhomoserine sulfhydrylase, methionine synthase (cobalamin dependent or independent), or homocysteine methyltransferase; an exogenous nucleic acid molecule that encodes a polypeptide capable of oxidizing light alkanes (e.g., monooxygenase or hydroxylase) or a cell lysate thereof, or both; may further comprise at least one endogenous protein function that is attenuated, inhibited, substantially reduced or functionally deleted, such as alcohol dehydrogenase (e.g., methanol dehydrogenase activity).

In certain embodiments, at least one alcohol dehydrogenase that is deactivated or reduced in activity comprises a methanol dehydrogenase (MIDH). In certain embodiments, alcohol dehydrogenase activity is reduced, inhibited or knocked-out by genetic modification or by a chemical or environmental stress (e.g., a temperature of at least 60° C., a pH of at least 9, or a pH no more than 5).

As used herein, an alcohol dehydrogenase refers to any enzyme that catalyzes the reversible conversion of alcohols into their corresponding aldehydes or ketones with the reduction of NAD⁺ to NADH. An alcohol dehydrogenase is inactivated if it possesses less than 25% activity as compared to a wild type or reference enzyme or possesses less than 25% activity during or after exposure to a chemical or environmental stress as compared to normal conditions. For example, an inactivated ADH (e.g., genetically inactivated) may possess 24%, 20%, 15%, 14%, 13%, 12%, 11%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, or less activity as compared to a wild type ADH. In another example, an inactivated ADH may possess 24%, 20%, 15%, 14%, 13%, 12%, 11%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, or less activity during exposure to a chemical or environmental stress (e.g., heat of at least 60° C.) as compared to in the absence of a chemical or environmental stress (e.g., at normal temperature).

In certain embodiments, provided are C₁ metabolizing microorganisms or C₁ metabolizing non-photosynthetic microorganisms or a cell lysate thereof in which two, three, four, or more alcohol dehydrogenases are attenuated, inhibited, inactivated, or functionally deleted. As an example, ADH sequences that may be inactivated in Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, Methylococcus capsulatus str. Bath, and Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum are provided in FIG. 5 of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/714,123, which sequences are incorporated herein in their entirety.

In certain embodiments, a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of metabolizing sulfur, a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of oxidizing light alkanes, or both, may encode polypeptides that naturally possess a desired “stability” or “stable activity” in the presence of a chemical or environmental stress, which may be used to generate a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism, a recombinant C₁ metabolizing non-photosynthetic microorganism, or a cell lysate thereof of this disclosure. In further embodiments, an enzyme may inherently have chemical or environmental stress stability, e.g., thermophilic, alkaliphilic, or acidophilic polypeptides may be used. In some embodiments, a substantial amount or most of the endogenous enzymes of the C₁ metabolizing microorganism are inactivated by a chemical or environmental stress, except for the exogenous polypeptides with sulfur oxidizing activity, alkane oxidizing activity, or both.

An environmental or chemical stress refers to a condition that can affect the ability of a microorganism to metabolize normally, survive, or affect the ability of a protein or enzyme to function. Environmental stress conditions include temperature extremes (heat or cold), light availability, water availability, or oxygen concentration. Chemical stress conditions include increased metal concentration, pH stress (high acidity or alkalinity), increased salt concentration, exposure to chemicals, and low nutrient availability. By way of example, an environment stress may be a temperature of at least 40° C., at least 45° C., at least 50° C., at least 55° C., at least 60° C., at least 65° C., at least 70° C., at least 75° C., at least 80° C., at least 85° C., at least 90° C., or at least 95° C. In another example a chemical stress may be a pH of at least 8, at least 8.5, at least 9, at least 9.2, at least 9.4, at least 9.6, at least 9.8, at least 10 or a pH no more than 6, no more than 5.5, no more than 5, no more than 4.8, no more than 4.6, no more than 4.4, no more than 4.2, no more than 4. In certain embodiments, a chemical or environmental stress is a temperature of at least 60° C., a pH of at least 9, or a pH of no more than 5.

A polypeptide with enzyme activity that is stable in the presence of a chemical or environmental stress refers to a polypeptide that retains substantial activity (e.g., ability to oxidize sulfur, alkanes, or both) during exposure to a chemical or environmental stress (i.e., retains at least 25% catalytic activity under the stress condition as compared to in the absence of the stress condition), which stability may be inherent or may be genetically engineered. A polypeptide with enzyme activity that is stable in the presence of a chemical or environmental stress may retain at least 25%, 30%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% activity under the stress condition as compared to in the absence of the stress condition, or for genetically modified, as compared to a wild-type or reference enzyme exposed to the same stress condition (i.e., wild type or reference enzyme retains less than 25% catalytic activity during exposure to a stress condition than in the absence of the stress condition).

Exemplary pMMO amino acid sequences from thermostable methanotrophic bacteria that may be used are provided in FIG. 3 of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/714,123, which sequences are incorporated herein in their entirety. Exemplary AMO amino acid sequences from halotolerant bacteria and from highly stress resistant bacteria are provided in FIG. 4 of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/714,123, which sequences are incorporated herein in their entirety. Exemplary reference pMMO and AMO amino acid sequences that may be genetically engineered are provided in FIGS. 2 and 4 of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/714,123, which sequences are incorporated herein in their entirety.

In certain further aspects, for example, in addition to converting contaminants in tainted gas into non-toxic and non-polluting molecules or utilizing gas and contaminant molecules as a source of carbon and energy, a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism of the present disclosure may further comprise an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a fatty acid converting enzyme capable of converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into a C₈-C₂₄ fatty acid derivative comprising a fatty aldehyde, a fatty alcohol, a fatty ester wax, a hydroxy fatty acid, a dicarboxylic acid, or any combination thereof.

In certain embodiments, any one of the aforementioned C₁ metabolizing microorganisms or C₁ metabolizing non-photosynthetic microorganisms comprising an exogenous nucleic acid encoding hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺oxidoreductase, hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfide: quinone oxidoreductase, sulfide: flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, sulfur dioxygenase, or any combination thereof, may further comprise a second exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a fatty acid converting enzyme capable of converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into a C₈-C₂₄ fatty acid derivative comprising a fatty aldehyde, a fatty alcohol, a fatty ester wax, a hydroxy fatty acid, a dicarboxylic acid, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the recombinant fatty acid converting enzyme of a C₁ metabolizing microorganism (e.g., non-natural methanotroph bacteria) is a fatty acyl-CoA reductase (FAR) for converting a gas feedstock (e.g., natural gas) into C₈ to C₂₄ fatty acid derivatives, such as fatty alcohol. In various embodiments, a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism expresses or over expresses a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a FAR enzyme. In certain embodiments, a FAR enzyme may be endogenous to the C₁ metabolizing microorganism or a FAR enzyme may be heterologous to the C₁ metabolizing microorganism.

In certain embodiments, any one of the aforementioned C₁ metabolizing microorganisms or C₁ metabolizing non-photosynthetic microorganisms comprising an exogenous nucleic acid encoding sulfur oxygenase, may further comprise a second exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a fatty acid converting enzyme capable of converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into a C₈-C₂₄ fatty acid derivative comprising a fatty aldehyde, a fatty alcohol, a fatty ester wax, a hydroxy fatty acid, a dicarboxylic acid, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the recombinant fatty acid converting enzyme of a C₁ metabolizing microorganism (e.g., non-natural methanotroph bacteria) is a fatty acyl-CoA reductase (FAR) for converting a gas feedstock (e.g., natural gas) into C₈ to C₂₄ fatty acid derivatives, such as fatty alcohol. In various embodiments, a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism expresses or over expresses a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a FAR enzyme. In certain embodiments, a FAR enzyme may be endogenous to the C₁ metabolizing microorganism or a FAR enzyme may be heterologous to the C₁ metabolizing microorganism.

In further embodiments, the present disclosure provides a non-natural methanotroph contains a fatty acid converting enzyme that is an acyl-CoA dependent fatty acyl-CoA reductase, such as acrl, FAR, CER4 (Genbank Accession No. JN315781.1), or Maqu 2220, capable of forming a fatty alcohol. In certain embodiments, the non-natural methanotroph contains a fatty acid converting enzyme that is an acyl-CoA dependent fatty acyl-CoA reductase capable of forming a fatty aldehyde, such as acrl. In some embodiments, the process will result in the production of fatty alcohols comprising C₈, C₁₀, C₁₂, C₁₄, C₁₆, C₁₈, C₂₀, C₂₂ or C₂₄ carbons in length.

In any of the aforementioned recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganisms capable of producing fatty acid derivatives (e.g., fatty alcohols), a C₁ metabolizing microorganism (e.g., non-natural methanotroph bacteria) further comprises a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a thioesterase, such as a tesA lacking a leader sequence, UcFatB, or BTE. In certain embodiments, the endogenous thioesterase activity is reduced, minimal or abolished as compared to unaltered endogenous thioesterase activity.

In any of the aforementioned recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganisms capable of producing fatty acid derivatives (e.g., fatty alcohols), a C₁ metabolizing microorganism (e.g., non-natural methanotroph bacteria) further comprises a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding an acyl-CoA synthetase, such as FadD, yng 1, or FAA2. In certain embodiments, the endogenous acyl-CoA synthetase activity is reduced, minimal or abolished as compared to unaltered endogenous acyl-CoA synthetase activity.

In still further embodiments, the present disclosure provides a C₁ metabolizing microorganism (e.g., non-natural methanotroph bacteria) having a recombinant nucleic acid encoding hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfide: quinone oxidoreductase, sulfide: flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, sulfur dioxygenase, or any combination thereof; a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a heterologous acyl-CoA dependent fatty acyl-CoA reductase, a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a heterologous thioesterase, and a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a heterologous acyl-CoA synthetase, wherein the C₁ metabolizing microorganism is capable of oxidizing sulfur and converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into a C₈-C₂₄ fatty alcohol. In certain embodiments, a fatty acyl-CoA reductase is over-expressed as compared to the expression level of the native fatty acyl-CoA reductase. In certain embodiments, an acyl-CoA dependent fatty acyl-CoA reductase capable of forming a fatty aldehyde, fatty alcohol, or both is acrl, or the acyl-CoA independent fatty acyl-CoA reductase capable of forming a fatty alcohol is FAR, CER4, or Maqu 2220. In certain embodiments, the acyl-CoA synthetase is FadD, yng1, or FAA2.

In still further embodiments, the present disclosure provides a C₁ metabolizing microorganism (e.g., non-natural methanotroph bacteria) having a recombinant nucleic acid encoding sulfur oxygenase; a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a heterologous acyl-CoA dependent fatty acyl-CoA reductase, a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a heterologous thioesterase, and a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a heterologous acyl-CoA synthetase, wherein the C₁ metabolizing microorganism is capable of oxidizing sulfur and converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into a C₈-C₂₄ fatty alcohol. In certain embodiments, a fatty acyl-CoA reductase is over-expressed as compared to the expression level of the native fatty acyl-CoA reductase. In certain embodiments, an acyl-CoA dependent fatty acyl-CoA reductase capable of forming a fatty aldehyde, fatty alcohol, or both is acrl, or the acyl-CoA independent fatty acyl-CoA reductase capable of forming a fatty alcohol is FAR, CER4, or Maqu_2220. In certain embodiments, the acyl-CoA synthetase is FadD, yng1, or FAA2.

In yet further embodiments, there is provided a C₁ metabolizing microorganism (e.g., non-natural methanotroph bacteria) having a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a heterologous acyl-CoA independent fatty acyl-CoA reductase, and a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a heterologous thioesterase, wherein the methanotroph is capable of converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into a C₈-C₂₄ fatty alcohol. In certain embodiments, the fatty acyl-CoA reductase is over-expressed in the non-natural methanotroph as compared to the expression level of the native fatty acyl-CoA reductase.

In certain embodiments, recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganisms capable of producing fatty acid derivatives (e.g., fatty alcohols) will comprise a heterologous nucleic acid molecule encoding a carboxylic acid reductase (CAR). In some embodiments, recombinant microorganisms will additionally comprise one or more heterologous nucleic acid molecules selected from an acyl-ACP thioesterase (TE), ketoreductase/alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), or phosphopantetheinyl transferase (PPTase), as further described herein.

Intracellular expression of a carboxylic acid reductase of this disclosure will lead to production not only of fatty aldehyde but also the corresponding fatty alcohol, which is due to alcohol dehydrogenase activity within a recombinant host cell. In some embodiments, the process will result in the production of fatty alcohols comprising C₈, C₁₀, C₁₂, C₁₄, C₁₆, C₁₈, C₂₀, C₂₂ or C₂₄ carbons in length.

In even further embodiments, there is provided a C₁ metabolizing microorganism or non-natural methanotroph having a recombinant nucleic acid encoding hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfide: quinone oxidoreductase, sulfide:flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, sulfur dioxygenase, or any combination thereof; a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a carboxylic acid reductase; a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a phosphopantetheinyl transferase; and a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding an alcohol dehydrogenase; wherein the C₁ metabolizing microorganism or methanotroph is capable of oxidizing sulfur and converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into a C₈-C₂₄ fatty alcohol.

In even further embodiments, there is provided a C₁ metabolizing microorganism or non-natural methanotroph having a recombinant nucleic acid encoding sulfur oxygenase; a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a carboxylic acid reductase; a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a phosphopantetheinyl transferase; and a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding an alcohol dehydrogenase; wherein the C₁ metabolizing microorganism or methanotroph is capable of oxidizing sulfur and converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into a C₈-C₂₄ fatty alcohol.

In other aspects, this disclosure provides any of the aforementioned C₁ metabolizing microorganisms or non-natural methanotrophs that further comprise a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a P450 enzyme, monooxygenase, or hydroxylase enzyme to produce an w-hydroxy fatty acid. In certain embodiments, the endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase activity is inhibited as compared to unaltered endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase activity. In other embodiments, the endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase activity is increased or elevated as compared to unaltered endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase activity to produce dicarboxylic acid.

In still further embodiments, there is provided a C₁ metabolizing microorganism or non-natural methanotroph having a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a heterologous fatty acyl-CoA reductase; a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a heterologous thioesterase; and a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a heterologous P450, monooxygenase or hydroxylase, wherein the native alcohol dehydrogenase is inhibited, and wherein the C₁ metabolizing microorganism or methanotroph is capable of converting a C₁ substrate into a C₈-C₂₄ w-hydroxy fatty acid.

In still further embodiments, there is provided a C₁ metabolizing microorganism or non-natural methanotroph having a recombinant nucleic acid encoding hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfide: quinone oxidoreductase, sulfide:flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, sulfur dioxygenase, or any combination thereof; a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a heterologous fatty acyl-CoA reductase, and a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a heterologous thioesterase, wherein the C₁ metabolizing microorganism or methanotroph is over-expressing native alcohol dehydrogenase as compared to the normal expression level of native alcohol dehydrogenase, transformed with a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a heterologous alcohol dehydrogenase, or both, and wherein the C₁ metabolizing microorganism or methanotroph is capable of oxidizing sulfur and converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into a C₈-C₂₄ dicarboxylic acid alcohol.

In still further embodiments, there is provided a C₁ metabolizing microorganism or non-natural methanotroph having a recombinant nucleic acid encoding sulfur oxygenase; a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a heterologous fatty acyl-CoA reductase, and a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a heterologous thioesterase, wherein the C₁ metabolizing microorganism or methanotroph is over-expressing native alcohol dehydrogenase as compared to the normal expression level of native alcohol dehydrogenase, transformed with a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a heterologous alcohol dehydrogenase, or both, and wherein the C₁ metabolizing microorganism or methanotroph is capable of oxidizing sulfur and converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into a C₈-C₂₄ dicarboxylic acid alcohol.

In any of the aforementioned C₁ metabolizing microorganisms or non-natural methanotrophs, a fatty alcohol is produced comprising one or more of C₈-C₁₄ or C₁₀-C₁₆ or C₁₂-C₁₄ or C₁₄-C₁₈ or C₁₄-C₂₄ fatty alcohols. In certain embodiments, the C₁ metabolizing microorganism or non-natural methanotroph produces fatty alcohol comprising C₁₀ to C₁₈ fatty alcohol and the C_(1o) to C₁₈ fatty alcohols comprise at least 70% of the total fatty alcohol. In further embodiments, the C₁ metabolizing microorganism or non-natural methanotroph produces fatty alcohol comprising a branched chain fatty alcohol.

In further embodiments, a fatty acid derivative is a saturated or unsaturated surfactant product having a carbon chain length of about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms, about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, about 8 to about 14 carbon atoms, about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms, or about 12 to about 16 carbon atoms. In another example, the surfactant product has a carbon chain length of about 10 to about 14 carbon atoms, or about 12 to about 14 carbon atoms.

In yet other embodiments, a fatty acid derivative contains a carbon chain of about 8 to 24 carbon atoms, about 8 to 18 carbon atoms, about 10 to 18 carbon atoms, about 10 to 16 carbon atoms, about 12 to 16 carbon atoms, about 12 to 14 carbon atoms, about 14 to 24 carbon atoms, about 14 to 18 carbon atoms, about 8 to 16 carbon atoms, or about 8 to 14 carbon atoms. In alternative embodiments, a fatty acid derivative contains a carbon chain less than about 20 carbon atoms, less than about 18 carbon atoms, less than about 16 carbon atoms, less than about 14 carbon atoms, or less than about 12 carbon atoms. In more embodiments, a fatty ester product is a saturated or unsaturated fatty ester product having a carbon atom content between 8 and 24 carbon atoms. In further embodiments, a fatty ester product has a carbon atom content between 8 and 14 carbon atoms. In other embodiments, a fatty ester product has a carbon content of 14 and 20 carbons. In yet other embodiments, a fatty ester is the methyl ester of C_(18:1). In still further embodiments, a fatty ester is the ethyl ester of C_(16:1). In further embodiments, a fatty ester is a methyl ester of C_(16:1). In yet other embodiments, a fatty ester is octadecyl ester of octanol.

In certain other aspects, a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism or a non-natural methanotroph of the present disclosure is capable of converting gas (e.g., light alkanes such as methane, ethane, propane, butane) and associated contaminants (e.g., H₂S, CO₂) into biological material, wherein an oil composition can be extracted from the biological material, or the biological material can be used as animal feed or fertilizer. In certain embodiments, for example, in addition to converting contaminants in tainted gas into non-toxic and non-polluting molecules or utilizing gas and contaminant molecules as a source of carbon and energy, a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism or a non-natural methanotroph of the present disclosure may further comprise an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a fatty acid producing enzyme, a formaldehyde assimilation enzyme, or a combination thereof, capable of converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into an oil composition.

In further embodiments, there is provided a C₁ metabolizing microorganism or non-natural methanotroph having a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfide: quinone oxidoreductase, sulfide:flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, sulfur dioxygenase, or any combination thereof; and a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a fatty acid producing enzyme, a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a formaldehyde assimilation enzyme, or a combination thereof; wherein the C₁ metabolizing microorganism or methanotroph is capable of oxidizing sulfur and converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into an oil composition.

In further embodiments, there is provided a C₁ metabolizing microorganism or non-natural methanotroph having a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding sulfur oxygenase; and a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a fatty acid producing enzyme, a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a formaldehyde assimilation enzyme, or a combination thereof; wherein the C₁ metabolizing microorganism or methanotroph is capable of oxidizing sulfur and converting a gas (e.g., natural gas) into an oil composition.

In still further embodiments, a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism or a non-natural methanotroph of the present disclosure may have one or more improved properties (e.g., higher growth rate, ability to grow in high pH, improved utilization of nutrients, temperature stability, increased biomaterial yield). In related embodiments, a product such as an oil composition (e.g., fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids, isoprenes, terpenes, PHA) is recovered from the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism or non-natural methanotroph, and optionally an oil composition is refined to produce plastic prescursors or one or more fuels, such as jet fuel, diesel fuel, gasoline, or a combination thereof. In still further embodiments, a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism or a non-natural methanotroph of the present disclosure may produce an oil composition and an alcohol (such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, or longer chain fatty alcohols), wherein the oil composition is reacted with an alcohol (e.g., in an esterification plant) to generate biodiesel.

In yet further embodiments, an oil composition is derived or extracted from cell membrane of the C₁ metabolizing non-photosynthetic microorganism (e.g., methylotroph, methanotroph) or may be recovered from a culture supernatant if secreted or excreted, or a combination thereof. Extraction of an oil composition may be accomplished using various different solvents (e.g., a polar solvent, a non-polar solvent, a neutral solvent, an acidic solvent, a basic solvent, hexane, or a combination thereof), such as hexane or acidic methanol or chloroform/methanol mix, in extraction methods known in the art.

In certain embodiments, the present disclosure provides a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism comprising a first exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of metabolizing an S substrate, wherein the recombinant microorganism is capable of scrubbing sulfur containing compounds from sour gas to produce sweet gas when all the light alkanes are not fully consumed or converted.

In any of the aforementioned embodiments, a plasmid containing one or more of the aforementioned genes, all under the control of a constitutive or otherwise controllable promoter, can be used. Several additional different modifications can be made as described herein, either in combination or individually, to a C₁ metabolizing microorganism or a C₁ metabolizing non-photosynthetic microorganism or to any of the exogenous nucleic acid molecules introduced into the microorganism or any combination changes to microorganism and recombinant nucleic acid molecules to produce high-value molecules (e.g., alcohols, fatty acid derivatives, amino acids), biological materials (e.g., animal feed, fertilizer, oil composition), sweetened gas, or any combination thereof.

In any of the aforementioned recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganisms (e.g., non-natural methanotroph bacteria), the recombinant microorganism is converting natural gas, unconventional natural gas, casinghead gas, or vapor above a confined sour hydrocarbon, and is capable of producing an alcohol composition, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, a variant sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, hydrogen sulfide :ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfide: flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, sulfide: quinone oxidoreductase, cysteine synthase, O-acetylhomoserine sulfhydrylase, methionine synthase (cobalamin dependent or independent), homocysteine methyltransferase, sulfur dioxygenase, sulfur oxygenase, or sulfite oxidase may encompass one or more amino acid substitutions, including variants having one or more conservative substitutions. In certain embodiments, conservatively substituted variants of a sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, hydrogen sulfide :ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfide: flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, sulfide: quinone oxidoreductase, hydrogen sulfide S-acetyltransferase, cysteine synthase, sulfur dioxygenase, sulfur oxygenase, or sulfite oxidase will include substitutions of a small percentage, such as less than 5%, less than 4%, less than 3%, less than 2%, or less than 1% of the amino acids of a sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfide: flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, sulfide: quinone oxidoreductase, hydrogen sulfide S-acetyltransferase, sulfur dioxygenase, sulfur oxygenase, or sulfite oxidase polypeptide sequence, respectively.

In any of the aforementioned recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganisms (e.g., non-natural methanotroph bacteria) capable of metabolizing an S substrate as encompassed by the present disclosure, the amount of alcohol produced ranges from about 1 mg/L to about 0.5 g/L to about 1 g/L to about 2 g/L to about 5 g/L to about 10 g/L to about 50 g/L to about 100 g/L to about 500 g/L. In certain other embodiments, a C₁ substrate feedstock for a C₁ metabolizing microorganism or non-natural methanotroph as described herein is a light alkane gas mixture, natural gas, unconventional natural gas, syngas, casinghead gas, wellhead condensate, refinery gas, pyrolysis gas, ventilation (air) stream, or vapor above a confined sour hydrocarbon. In certain embodiments, a C₁ metabolizing microorganism or non-natural methanotroph is capable of converting alkane gas mixture, natural gas, unconventional natural gas, syngas, casinghead gas, wellhead condensate, refinery gas, pyrolysis gas, ventilation (air) stream, or vapor above a confined sour hydrocarbon into their corresponding alcohols or other compositions.

For example, the recombinant microorganisms of this disclosure are capable of converting a mixture of light alkanes (i.e., any combination of two or more alkanes selected from methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane, or any combination thereof) into their corresponding alcohols. In further embodiments, ethane, propane, and butane are converted into their corresponding alcohols, ethanol, propanol, and butanol, respectively, or converting ethylene, propylene, butene, and butadiene into their corresponding epoxides. In yet further embodiments, butanol comprises substantially of n-butanol (i.e., n-butanol comprises at least 50% or more of the butanol product). In still further embodiments, propanol comprises substantially of n-propanol (i.e., n-propanol comprises at least 50% or more of the propanol product). In further embodiments, recombinant microorganisms of this disclosure may be capable of converting ethylene, propylene, butene, butadiene into their corresponding epoxides, ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butene oxide, and butadiene 1,2 oxide respectively. In certain embodiments, provided are recombinant microorganisms of this disclosure capable of converting a mixed alkene gas from, for example, a petroleum cracker or a partially separated derivative thereof, into a mixed epoxide product.

Any of the aforementioned C₁ metabolizing microorganisms or non-natural methanotroph bacteria may also have undergone strain adaptation under selective conditions to produce variants with improved properties for metabolizing a gas and any associated contaminants, before or after introduction of the recombinant nucleic acid molecules. Improved properties may include increased growth rate, yield of desired products (e.g., increased sulfite oxidase activity or production, desulfurized gas, light alkanes oxidized to alcohols), or tolerance to process or culture contaminants. In particular embodiments, a high growth variant C₁ metabolizing microorganism or methanotroph comprises a host bacteria capable of growing on a light alkane gas or methane feedstock as a primary carbon and energy source and that possesses a faster exponential phase growth rate (i.e., shorter doubling time) than its parent, reference, or wild-type bacteria (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,689,601).

Each of the recombinant microorganisms of this disclosure may be grown as an isolated culture, with a heterologous organism that may aid with growth, or one or more of these bacteria may be combined to generate a mixed culture. In still further embodiments, C₁ metabolizing microorganisms of this disclosure are obligate C₁ metabolizing microorganisms capable of utilizing (e.g., oxidizing or assimilating) an S substrate.

Culture Methods

In certain embodiments, methods described herein use recombinant microorganisms or cell lysates thereof immobilized on, within, or behind a solid matrix. In further embodiments, the non-naturally occurring microorganisms, cell lysates or cell-free extracts thereof are in a substantially non-aqueous state (e.g., lyophilized). Recombinant microorganisms, cell lysates or cell-free fractions thereof are temporarily or permanently attached on, within, or behind a solid matrix within a bioreactor. Nutrients, substrates, and other required factors are supplied to the solid matrices so that the cells may catalyze desired reactions. Recombinant microorganisms may grow on the surface of a solid matrix (e.g., as a biofilm). Recombinant microorganisms, cell lysates or cell-free fractions derived thereof may be attached on the surface or within a solid matrix without cellular growth or in a non-living state. Exemplary solid matrix supports for microorganisms include polypropylene rings, ceramic bio-rings, ceramic saddles, fibrous supports (e.g., membrane), porous glass beads, polymer beads, charcoal, activated carbon, dried silica gel, particulate alumina, Ottawa sand, clay, polyurethane cell support sheets, and fluidized bed particle carrier (e.g., sand, granular-activated carbon, diatomaceous earth, calcium alginate gel beads).

A variety of culture methodologies may be used for recombinant methanotrophic bacteria described herein. For example, methanotrophic bacteria may be grown by batch culture or continuous culture methodologies. In certain embodiments, the cultures are grown in a controlled culture unit, such as a fermenter, bioreactor, hollow fiber membrane bioreactor, or the like.

A classical batch culturing method is a closed system where the composition of the media is set at the beginning of the culture and not subject to external alterations during the culture process. Thus, at the beginning of the culturing process, the media is inoculated with the desired C₁ metabolizing microorganism (e.g., methanotroph) and growth or metabolic activity is permitted to occur without adding anything to the system. Typically, however, a “batch” culture is batch with respect to the addition of carbon source and attempts are often made at controlling factors such as pH and oxygen concentration. In batch systems, the metabolite and biomass compositions of the system change constantly up to the time the culture is terminated. Within batch cultures, cells moderate through a static lag phase to a high growth logarithmic phase and finally to a stationary phase where growth rate is diminished or halted. If untreated, cells in the stationary phase will eventually die. Cells in logarithmic growth phase are often responsible for the bulk production of end product or intermediate in some systems. Stationary or post-exponential phase production can be obtained in other systems.

The Fed-Batch system is a variation on the standard batch system. Fed-Batch culture processes comprise a typical batch system with the modification that the substrate is added in increments as the culture progresses. Fed-Batch systems are useful when catabolite repression is apt to inhibit the metabolism of the cells and where it is desirable to have limited amounts of substrate in the media. Measurement of the actual substrate concentration in Fed-Batch systems is difficult and is therefore estimated on the basis of the changes of measureable factors, such as pH, dissolved oxygen, and the partial pressure of waste gases such as CO₂. Batch and Fed-Batch culturing methods are common and known in the art (see, e.g., Thomas D. Brock, Biotechnology: A Textbook of Industrial Microbiology, 2^(nd) Ed. (1989) Sinauer Associates, Inc., Sunderland, Mass.; Deshpande, Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol. 36:227, 1992).

Continuous cultures are “open” systems where a defined culture media is added continuously to a bioreactor and an equal amount of conditioned media is removed simultaneously for processing. Continuous cultures generally maintain the cells at a constant high liquid phase density where cells are primarily in logarithmic phase growth. Alternatively, continuous culture may be practiced with immobilized cells where carbon and nutrients are continuously added and valuable products, by-products, and waste products are continuously removed from the cell mass. Cell immobilization may be performed using a wide range of solid supports composed of natural and/or synthetic materials.

Continuous or semi-continuous culture allows for the modulation of one factor or any number of factors that affect cell growth or end product concentration. For example, one method will maintain a limited nutrient, such as the carbon source or nitrogen level, at a fixed rate and allow all other parameters to modulate. In other systems, a number of factors affecting growth can be altered continuously while the cell concentration, measured by media turbidity, is kept constant. Continuous systems strive to maintain steady state growth conditions and thus the cell loss due to media being drawn off must be balanced against the cell growth rate in the culture. Methods of modulating nutrients and growth factors for continuous culture processes, as well as techniques for maximizing the rate of product formation, are well known in the art, and a variety of methods are detailed by Brock, supra.

Liquid phase bioreactors (e.g., stirred tank, packed bed, one liquid phase, two liquid phase, hollow fiber membrane) are well known in the art and may be used for growth of non-naturally occurring microorganisms and biocatalysis.

By using gas phase bioreactors, substrates for biocatalysis or bioremediation are absorbed from a gas by non-naturally occurring microorganisms, cell lysates or cell-free fractions thereof, rather than from a liquid. Use of gas phase bioreactors with microorganisms is known in the art (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,793,096; 4,999,302; 5,585,266; 5,079,168; and 6,143,556; U.S. Statutory Invention Registration H1430; U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0032170; Emerging Technologies in Hazardous Waste Management III, 1993, eds. Tedder and Pohland, pp 411-428). Exemplary gas phase bioreactors include single pass system, closed loop pumping system, and fluidized bed reactor. By utilizing gas phase bioreactors, methane or other gaseous substrates is readily available for biocatalysis by polypeptides with monooxygenase or hydroxylase activity. Furthermore, distillation of an alcohol product from aqueous solution, which represents a significant cost in liquid phase bioreactors, may be bypassed in gas phase bioreactors. In preferred embodiments, methods for desulfurizing a gas or converting a gas into an alcohol composition are performed in gas phase bioreactors. In further embodiments, methods for desulfurizing a gas or converting a gas into an alcohol composition are performed in fluidized bed reactors. In a fluidized bed reactor, a fluid (i.e., gas or liquid) is passed upward through particle bed carriers, usually sand, granular-activated carbon, or diatomaceous earth, on which microorganisms can attach and grow. The fluid velocity is such that particle bed carriers and attached microorganisms are suspended (i.e., bed fluidization). The microorganisms attached to the particle bed carriers freely circulate in the fluid, allowing for effective mass transfer of substrates in the fluid to the microorganisms and increased microbial growth. Exemplary fluidized bed reactors include plug-flow reactors and completely mixed reactors. Uses of fluidized bed reactors with microbial biofilms are known in the art (e.g., Pfluger et al., Bioresource Technol. 102:9919, 2011; Fennell et al., Biotechnol, Bioengin. 40:1218, 1992; Ruggeri et al., Water Sci. Technol. 29:347, 1994; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,032,407; 4,009, 098; 4,009,105; and 3,846,289).

Methanotrophic bacteria described in the present disclosure may be grown as an isolated pure culture, with a heterologous non-methanotrophic microorganism(s) that may aid with growth, or with one or more different strains or species of methanotrophic bacteria may be combined to generate a mixed culture.

Methods for Treating and Converting Gas

In other aspects, as described herein, there are provided methods for treating a gas by culturing a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism with a tainted gas feedstock for a time sufficient for the recombinant microorganism to metabolize unwanted contaminants from the tainted gas and convert the gas into compounds of interest, wherein the tainted feedstock comprises a C₁ substrate and an S substrate and the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism comprises an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of metabolizing the S substrate. In certain embodiments, the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism assimilates or oxidizes each substrate. The assimilation or oxidation can be partial, substantial, or complete.

In further aspects, as described herein, there are provided methods for treating a gas by culturing a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism with a sulfur-containing gas feedstock for a time sufficient to metabolize an S substrate, wherein the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism comprises an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a sulfide converting enzyme.

In yet further aspects, as described herein, there are provided methods for treating a gas by culturing a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism with an acid or sour gas feedstock for a time sufficient to recover sweetened gas, wherein the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism comprises an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of oxidizing sulfide.

In still further aspects, as described herein, there are provided methods for treating a gas by culturing a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism with a tainted gas feedstock for a time sufficient for the recombinant microorganism to in part decontaminate the gas and in part convert the gas to biomass, wherein the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism comprises an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of oxidizing sulfide.

In any of the aforementioned methods for using recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganisms (e.g., non-natural methanotroph bacteria) to produce compounds of interest (or even some treated gas) as disclosed in the present disclosure, the polypeptide capable of oxidizing sulfur is a hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfide: flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, sulfide: quinone oxidoreductase, sulfur dioxygenase, or any combination thereof, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase or has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity and that are optionally stable in the presence of chemical or environmental stress. In certain embodiments, the S substrate is oxidized to a sulfate.

In any of the aforementioned methods for using recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganisms (e.g., non-natural methanotroph bacteria) to produce compounds of interest (or even some treated gas) as disclosed in the present disclosure, the polypeptide capable of oxidizing sulfur is a sulfur oxygenase, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase or has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity and that are optionally stable in the presence of chemical or environmental stress. In certain embodiments, the S substrate is oxidized to a sulfide or a sulfate.

In certain embodiments, the polypeptide capable of oxidizing an S substrate is a sulfide: flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, sulfide: quinone oxidoreductase, and sulfur dioxygenase, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase or has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity or has increased endogenous sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase. In further embodiments, the polypeptide capable of oxidizing an S substrate is hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase or has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity or has increased endogenous sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase. In further embodiments, the polypeptide capable of oxidizing an S substrate is hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase or has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity or has increased endogenous sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase. In further embodiments, the polypeptide capable of oxidizing an S substrate is sulfide:flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase or has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity or has increased endogenous sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase. In further embodiments, the polypeptide capable of oxidizing an S substrate is sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase, has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity or has increased endogenous sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase, or is expressing a sulfide:flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase encoded by an exogenous nucleic acid molecule. In further embodiments, the polypeptide capable of oxidizing an S substrate is sulfur dioxygenase, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase, has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity or has increased endogenous sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase, or is expressing a sulfide:flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase encoded by an exogenous nucleic acid molecule, or is expressing a sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase encoded by an exogenous nucleic acid molecule.

In certain embodiments, the polypeptide capable of oxidizing an S substrate is a sulfur oxygenase, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase or has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity or has increased endogenous sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase.

In any of the aforementioned methods, the C₁ substrate, the S substrate, or both are converted into a biological material, such as animal feed, a fertilizer or an oil composition.

In any of the aforementioned methods, a C₁ metabolizing microorganisms (e.g., non-natural methanotroph bacteria) having a first exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of metabolizing the S substrate further comprises a second exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a fatty acid producing enzyme, a formaldehyde assimilation enzyme, or a combination thereof, wherein the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism converts the C₁ substrate into an oil composition. In certain embodiments, the oil composition is substantially located in the cell membrane of the C₁ metabolizing microorganism. In some embodiments, the method further comprises the step of obtaining the oil composition by extraction. In certain embodiments, the method further comprises the step of refining the extracted oil composition into a fuel, wherein the fuel comprises jet fuel, diesel fuel, paraffinic kerosene, gasoline, or a combination thereof.

In any of the aforementioned methods for using recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganisms (e.g., non-natural methanotroph bacteria) to produce treated gas or convert light alkanes to other products (e.g., alcohol, oil, biomass) as disclosed in the present disclosure, the method further comprises a second recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism or cell lysate thereof, wherein the second recombinant microorganism or cell lysate thereof (e.g., methanotrophic bacterium) comprises an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of oxidizing light alkanes, wherein the second recombinant microorganism or cell lysate thereof (e.g., methanotrophic bacterium) oxidizes the C₁ substrate into an alcohol composition. In certain embodiments, the culturing is performed in the presence of a reducing agent, such as hydrogen gas (H₂) or formate, and optionally air or oxygen.

Alternatively, in any of the aforementioned methods for using recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganisms (e.g., non-natural methanotroph bacteria) to decontaminate gas or to partially, substantially, or fully convert the gas to a mixed alcohol composition as disclosed in the present disclosure, the method comprises a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism further comprising a second exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of oxidizing light alkanes, wherein the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism or cell lysate thereof oxidizes the C₁ substrate into an alcohol composition. In certain embodiments, the polypeptide capable of oxidizing light alkanes, such as an alkane monooxygenase, alkene monooxygenase or alkane hydroxylase, is capable of directly using H₂ as a reducing agent to convert light alkane gas to an alcohol composition. In further embodiments, the polypeptide capable of oxidizing light alkanes is a monooxygenase, such as pMMO, sMMO, AMO, pBMO, sBMO, sPMO, PMO:P450, P450, or any combination thereof. In further embodiments, the method is performed under a chemical or environmental stress, such as a temperature at least 60° C., a pH of at least 9, or a pH of no more than 5. In further embodiments, the alcohol dehydrogenase is inactivated by the chemical or environmental stress, such as a temperature at least 60° C., a pH of at least 9, or a pH of no more than 5.

In other embodiments, at least one alcohol dehydrogenase is inactivated, such as by genetic modification. In certain embodiments, the at least one alcohol dehydrogenase comprises methanol dehydrogenase. In further embodiments, the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism or cell lysate thereof is immobilized on a solid matrix in a substantially non-aqueous state.

In any of the aforementioned methods, a C₁ metabolizing microorganisms (e.g., non-natural methanotroph bacteria) having a first exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of metabolizing the S substrate further comprises a second exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a fatty acid converting enzyme capable of converting a C₁ substrate into a C₈-C₂₄ fatty acid derivative comprising a fatty aldehyde, a fatty alcohol, a hydroxy fatty acid, a dicarboxylic acid, or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the fatty acid converting enzyme is a fatty acyl-CoA reductase, such as FAR, CER4, or Maqu 2220, capable of forming a fatty alcohol. In some embodiments, the fatty acid converting enzyme is a fatty acyl-CoA reductase, such as acr1, capable of forming a fatty aldehyde. In some embodiments, the fatty acid converting enzyme is a carboxylic acid reductase.

In any of the aforementioned embodiments comprising a fatty acid converting enzyme, the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism further comprises an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a thioesterase, such as a tesA lacking a signal peptide, UcFatB or BTE. In some embodiments, endogenous thioesterase activity is reduced, minimal or abolished as compared to unaltered endogenous thioesterase activity. In any of these embodiments, the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism further comprises an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding an acyl-CoA synthetase, such as FadD, yng1, or FAA2. In some embodiments, endogenous acyl-CoA synthetase activity is reduced, minimal or abolished as compared to unaltered endogenous acyl-CoA synthetase activity.

In any of the aforementioned embodiments comprising a fatty acid converting enzyme and another exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a thioesterase or acyl-CoA synthetase, the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism further comprises a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a monooxygenase or hydroxylase to produce w-hydroxy fatty acid. In certain embodiments, endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase activity is reduced, minimal or abolished as compared to unaltered endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase activity.

In any of the aforementioned embodiments comprising a fatty acid converting enzyme and one or more other exogenous nucleic acid molecules, endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase activity is increased or elevated as compared to unaltered endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase activity to produce dicarboxylic acid.

In any of the aforementioned methods, the C₁ metabolizing microorganisms can be cultured in a controlled culturing unit, such as a fermenter or bioreactor. In further embodiments, the bioreactor is a gas phase bioreactor or a fluidized bed reactor.

In any of the aforementioned methods for using recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganisms (e.g., non-natural methanotroph bacteria) to produce treated gas or convert light alkanes to other products (e.g., alcohol, oil, biomass) as disclosed in the present disclosure, the gas feedstock is a light alkane gas, natural gas, unconventional natural gas, syngas, casinghead gas, wellhead condensate, refinery gas, pyrolysis gas, ventilation (air) stream, or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the tainted gas feedstock is an acid gas or a sour gas.

In any of the aforementioned methods for using recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganisms (e.g., non-natural methanotroph bacteria) to produce treated gas or convert light alkanes to other products (e.g., alcohol, epoxide, biomass) as disclosed in the present disclosure, the C₁ metabolizing microorganism being cultured is Methylomonas, Methylobacter, Methylococcus, Methylosinus, Methylocysti s, Methylomicrobium, Methanomonas, Methylophilus, Methylobacillus, Methylobacterium, Hyphomicrobium, Xanthobacter, Bacillus, Paracoccus, Nocardia, Arthrobacter, Rhodopseudomonas, Pseudomonas, Candida, Yarrowia, Hansenula, Pichia, Torulopsis, or Rhodotorula. In further embodiments, C₁ metabolizing microorganism being cultured is bacteria, such as a methanotroph or methylotroph.

The recombinant microorganism may be a Methylococcus capsulatus Bath strain, Methylomonas 16a (ATCC PTA 2402), Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b (NRRL B-11,196), Methylosinus sporium (NRRL B-11,197), Methylocystis parvus (NRRL B-11,198), Methylomonas methanica (NRRL B-11,199), Methylomonas albus (NRRL B-11,200), Methylobacter capsulatus (NRRL B-11,201), Methylobacterium organophilum (ATCC 27,886), Methylomonas sp AJ-3670 (FERM P-2400), Methylocella silvestris, Methylocella palustris (ATCC 700799), Methylocella tundrae, Methylocystis daltona strain SB2, Methylocystis bryophila, Methylocapsa aurea KYG, Methylacidiphilum infernorum, Methylibium petroleiphilum, Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum, or a combination thereof. In certain related embodiments, the recombinant microorganism is a Methylococcus capsulatus Bath strain, Methylomonas 16a (ATCC PTA 2402), or Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum.

In further embodiments, the C₁ metabolizing microorganism or bacteria can metabolize natural gas, unconventional natural gas, or syngas. In certain embodiments, the syngas metabolizing bacteria include Clostridium autoethanogenum, Clostridium ljungdahli, Clostridium ragsdalei, Clostridium carboxydivorans, Butyribacterium methylotrophicum, Clostridium woodii, Clostridium neopropanologen, or a combination thereof.

In certain other embodiments, the metabolizing microorganism is an obligate C₁ metabolizing microorganism. In certain other embodiments, the metabolizing microorganism is a facultative C₁ metabolizing microorganism. In certain embodiments, the culture comprises a C₁ metabolizing microorganism that is a methanotroph and the culture further comprises one or more heterologous bacteria.

In certain embodiments, methods for converting light alkane gas into a composition of interest as provided herein produce at least about or up to 1 liter (L), at least about or up to 10 L, at least about or up to 100 L, at least about or up to 1000 L, at least about or up to 10000 L, or at least about or up to 50000 L compound(s) of interest/day.

In any of the aforementioned methods, the C₁ metabolizing microorganism is an obligate C₁ metabolizing microorganism.

Systems for Treating and Converting Gas

Substantial amounts of natural gas containing undesirable components (such as acid and sour gas) can be produced at natural gas wells, oil wells (e.g., as associated gas), and from natural gas storage reservoirs, for example, infected with hydrogen sulfide producing bacteria. Hydrogen sulfide and other sulfhydryl compounds can be found in natural gas, in refinery gases, pyrolysis gas, ventilation (air) streams, or in vapor spaces above confined hydrogen sulfide containing hydrocarbons (such as storage tanks or barges). The compositions, methods and systems of this disclosure can be used to treat and convert gas in any of these settings.

Natural gas has a wide range of acid gas concentrations, ranging from parts per million to 50 volume percent or higher, depending on the source. Acid gases are corrosive in the presence of water (H₂S and CO₂), toxic (H₂S), or lack heating value (CO₂), so salable gas must be sweetened to contain no more than, depending on regulations or agreements, a quarter grain H₂S per 100 standard cubic feet (4 parts per million) and to have a heating value of no less than 920 to 980 Btu/SCF. The most widely used processes to sweeten natural gas entail the use of alkanolamines; the two most common are monoethanolamine (MEA) and diethanolamine (DEA). As simple gas sweetening system involve introducing acid or sour gas into the bottom of an absorber where the gas flows up the tower countercurrent of an aqueous (lean) amine stream, which fed through the top of the tower. Within the tower, the acid or sour gas is absorbed by the amine (referred to as rich amine). From the absorber, the rich amine is directed to the top of a stripping tower where a drop in pressure and application of heat strips the solvent of the sour or acid gas. The once again lean amine is circulated back to the absorber for sweetening. But, amine gas sweetening plants can experience operating difficulties including foaming, failure to meet sweet gas specification, high solvent losses, corrosion, fouling of equipment, and contamination of the amine solution. Often one operating difficulty is the cause of another, although not all plants experience the same problems or to the same degree.

The compositions, methods and systems of the instant disclosure solve many of these problems, although the compositions, methods and systems of the instant disclosure can be used with the amine systems currently in operation.

In certain aspects, there is provided a system for treating a gas comprising a source of gas comprising a C₁ substrate and an S substrate and a bioreactor comprising a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism, wherein the recombinant microorganism comprises an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of metabolizing the S substrate, wherein a connector disposed between the gas source and the bioreactor is present to allow flow of gas into the bioreactor and the recombinant microorganism oxidizes or assimilates each substrate. In certain embodiments, the source of gas is first treated through an amine system, and the H₂S, CO₂, or both released from the rich amine are fed into the bioreactor. In further embodiments, the bioreactor is a gas bioreactor, such as a fluidized bed reactor, and the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism in contact with a solid matrix in the bioreactor. In further embodiments, the solid matrix comprises a polypropylene, ceramic, glass, charcoal, sand, activated carbon, or diatomaceous earth support. In further embodiments, the recombinant microorganism is a whole cell or a cell lysate thereof that is immobilized on the solid matrix and in a substantially non-aqueous state.

In other aspects, there is provided a system for recovering stranded gas or oil, comprising a mechanism for recovering oil or gas from an underground formation, wherein the gas comprises a C₁ substrate and an S substrate and the mechanism for recovering comprises a well, a mechanism for oxidizing or assimilating at least a portion of each substrate from the recovered gas, the mechanism for oxidizing or assimilating comprising a bioreactor, wherein the bioreactor comprises a recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism comprising an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of metabolizing the S substrate, and a mechanism for recovering the bioremediated stranded oil from the underground formation, wherein the mechanism for recovering comprises a well. In certain embodiments, the source of gas is first treated through an amine system, and the H₂S, CO₂, or both released from the rich amine are fed into the bioreactor. In further embodiments, the bioreactor is a gas bioreactor, such as a fluidized bed reactor, and the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism in contact with a solid matrix in the bioreactor. In further embodiments, the solid matrix comprises a polypropylene, ceramic, glass, charcoal, sand, activated carbon, or diatomaceous earth support. In further embodiments, the recombinant microorganism is a whole cell or a cell lysate thereof that is immobilized on the solid matrix and in a substantially non-aqueous state.

The recovery of oil or gas with a sulfur compound from an underground formation may be accomplished by any known method. Suitable methods include subsea production, surface production, fracking, primary, secondary, or tertiary production. The selection of the method used to recover the oil or gas from an underground formation is not critical. For example, oil or gas with a sulfur compound may be recovered from a formation into a well, and flow through the well and flowline to a facility. In other instances, enhanced oil recovery, with the use of an agent such as steam, water, a surfactant, a polymer flood, or a miscible agent, may be used to increase the flow of oil or gas from the formation.

In any of the aforementioned systems, the C₁ substrate, the S substrate, or both are converted into a biological material, such as animal feed, a fertilizer or an oil composition.

In any of the aforementioned systems, a C₁ metabolizing microorganisms (e.g., non-natural methanotroph bacteria) having a first exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of metabolizing the S substrate further comprises a second exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a fatty acid producing enzyme, a formaldehyde assimilation enzyme, or a combination thereof, wherein the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism converts the C₁ substrate into an oil composition. In certain embodiments, the oil composition is substantially located in the cell membrane of the C₁ metabolizing microorganism. In some embodiments, the method further comprises the step of obtaining the oil composition by extraction. In certain embodiments, the method further comprises the step of refining the extracted oil composition into a fuel, wherein the fuel comprises jet fuel, diesel fuel, paraffinic kerosene, gasoline, or a combination thereof.

In any of the aforementioned systems for treating gas or converting gas to other products (e.g., alcohol, oil, biomass) as disclosed in the present disclosure, the polypeptide capable of capable of metabolizing the S substrate is a hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfide: flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase, sulfur dioxygenase, or any combination thereof, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase or has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity. In certain embodiments, the polypeptide capable of metabolizing an S substrate is a sulfide:flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase, and sulfur dioxygenase, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase or has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity or has increased endogenous sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase. In further embodiments, the polypeptide capable of metabolizing an S substrate is hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase or has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity or has increased endogenous sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase. In further embodiments, the polypeptide capable of metabolizing an S substrate is hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase or has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity or has increased endogenous sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase. In further embodiments, the polypeptide capable of metabolizing an S substrate is sulfide:flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase or has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity or has increased endogenous sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase. In further embodiments, the polypeptide capable of metabolizing an S substrate is sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase, has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity or has increased endogenous sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase, or is expressing a sulfide:flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase encoded by an exogenous nucleic acid molecule. In further embodiments, the polypeptide capable of metabolizing an S substrate is sulfur dioxygenase, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase, has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity or has increased endogenous sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase, or is expressing a sulfide:flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase encoded by an exogenous nucleic acid molecule, or is expressing a sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase encoded by an exogenous nucleic acid molecule.

In any of the aforementioned systems for treating gas or converting gas to other products (e.g., alcohol, oil, biomass) as disclosed in the present disclosure, the polypeptide capable of capable of metabolizing the S substrate is a sulfur oxygenase, and optionally expresses an exogenous sulfite oxidase or has increased endogenous sulfite oxidase activity.

In any of the aforementioned systems for treating gas or converting gas to other products (e.g., alcohol, oil, biomass) as disclosed in the present disclosure, the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism further comprises a second exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide oxidizing light alkanes (e.g., alkyl monooxygenase or hydroxylase) that is optionally stable in the presence of chemical or environmental stress.

Alternatively, any of the aforementioned systems for treating gas or converting gas to other products (e.g., alcohol, oil, biomass) as disclosed in the present disclosure, the bioreactor further comprises a second recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism comprising a second exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of oxidizing light alkanes that is optionally stable in the presence of chemical or environmental stress. In certain embodiments, the recombinant microorganism or a cell lysate thereof partially converts the gas into a mixed alcohol composition. In further embodiments, the system further comprises a chemical or environmental control unit capable of maintaining a chemical or environmental stress condition in the bioreactor, such as a temperature at least 60° C., a pH of at least 9, or a pH of no more than 5.

In any of the aforementioned systems, a C₁ metabolizing microorganisms (e.g., non-natural methanotroph bacteria) having a first exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of metabolizing the S substrate further comprises a second exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a fatty acid converting enzyme capable of converting a C₁ substrate into a C₈-C₂₄ fatty acid derivative comprising a fatty aldehyde, a fatty alcohol, a hydroxy fatty acid, a dicarboxylic acid, or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the fatty acid converting enzyme is a fatty acyl-CoA reductase, such as FAR, CER4, or Maqu_2220, capable of forming a fatty alcohol. In some embodiments, the fatty acid converting enzyme is a fatty acyl-CoA reductase, such as acrl, capable of forming a fatty aldehyde. In some embodiments, the fatty acid converting enzyme is a carboxylic acid reductase.

In any of the aforementioned embodiments comprising a fatty acid converting enzyme, the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism further comprises an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a thioesterase, such as a tesA lacking a signal peptide, UcFatB or BTE. In some embodiments, endogenous thioesterase activity is reduced, minimal or abolished as compared to unaltered endogenous thioesterase activity. In any of these embodiments, the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism further comprises an exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding an acyl-CoA synthetase, such as FadD, yng1, or FAA2. In some embodiments, endogenous acyl-CoA synthetase activity is reduced, minimal or abolished as compared to unaltered endogenous acyl-CoA synthetase activity.

In any of the aforementioned embodiments comprising a fatty acid converting enzyme and another exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a thioesterase or acyl-CoA synthetase, the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism further comprises a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a monooxygenase or hydroxylase to produce w-hydroxy fatty acid. In certain embodiments, endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase activity is reduced, minimal or abolished as compared to unaltered endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase activity.

In any of the aforementioned embodiments comprising a fatty acid converting enzyme and one or more other exogenous nucleic acid molecules, endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase activity is increased or elevated as compared to unaltered endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase activity to produce dicarboxylic acid.

In any of the aforementioned systems for treating gas or converting gas to other products (e.g., alcohol, oil, biomass) as disclosed in the present disclosure, the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism or cell lysate thereof is capable of using H₂ as a reducing agent to convert light alkane gas to an alcohol composition. In certain embodiments, the system further comprises a reducing agent source connected to the bioreactor, such as hydrogen gas (H₂) gas. In further embodiments, the polypeptide having monooxygenase activity, such as an alkane monooxygenase, alkene monooxygenases or alkane hydroxylase, is capable of directly using H₂ as a reducing agent to convert light alkane gas to an alcohol composition. In further embodiments, the polypeptide having monooxygenase activity is an alkane monooxygenase, such as pMMO, sMMO, AMO, pBMO, sBMO, sPMO, PMO:P450, P450, or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the polypeptide having monooxygenase activity is a methane monooxygenase, such as pMMO, sMMO, P450, or any combination thereof. In further embodiments, the system further comprises a source of air or oxygen connected to the bioreactor. In further embodiments, the alcohol dehydrogenase is inactivated by the chemical or environmental stress, such as a temperature at least 60° C., a pH of at least 9, or a pH of no more than 5. In other embodiments, the alcohol dehydrogenase is inactivated by genetic modification. In certain embodiments, the at least one alcohol dehydrogenase comprises methanol dehydrogenase. In further embodiments, the recombinant C₁ metabolizing microorganism or cell lysate thereof is immobilized on a solid matrix in a substantially non-aqueous state.

In any of the aforementioned systems for treating gas or converting gas to other products (e.g., alcohol, oil, biomass) as disclosed in the present disclosure, the gas source is a light alkane gas mixture, natural gas, unconventional natural gas, syngas, casinghead gas, wellhead condensate, refinery gas, pyrolysis gas, ventilation (air) stream, or vapor above a confined sour hydrocarbon or a combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the source of gas is from an oil refinery, oil well, or natural gas well. In further embodiments, the gas comprises methane and the corresponding alcohol composition comprises methanol. In further embodiments, the gas comprises ethane and the corresponding alcohol composition comprises ethanol. In further embodiments, the gas comprises propane and the corresponding alcohol composition comprises propanol, n-propanol, or a combination thereof. In further embodiments, the gas comprises butane and the corresponding alcohol composition comprises butanol, n-butanol, or a combination thereof.

In any of the aforementioned systems for treating gas or converting gas to other products (e.g., alcohol, oil, biomass) as disclosed in the present disclosure, the system further comprises a collection unit for collecting the alcohol composition, such as a condenser. In further embodiments, the system further comprises a distillation unit for separating the alcohol composition from water byproduct. In further embodiments, the system further comprises a recycling unit for recycling unconverted gas back into the bioreactor. In further embodiments, the system further comprises a pipeline for transporting the sweet gas. In further embodiments, the system further comprises a refrigeration unit for liquefying the sweet gas.

In any of the aforementioned systems for treating gas or converting gas to other products (e.g., alcohol, epoxide, biomass) as disclosed in the present disclosure, the C₁ metabolizing microorganism being cultured is Methylomonas, Methylobacter, Methylococcus, Methylosinus, Methylocystis, Methylomicrobium, Methanomonas, Methylophilus, Methylobacillus, Methylobacterium, Hyphomicrobium, Xanthobacter, Bacillus, Paracoccus, Nocardia, Arthrobacter, Rhodopseudomonas, Pseudomonas, Candida, Yarrowia, Hansenula, Pichia, Torulopsis, or Rhodotorula. In further embodiments, C₁ metabolizing microorganism being cultured is bacteria, such as a methanotroph or methylotroph.

The recombinant microorganism may be a Methylococcus capsulatus Bath strain, Methylomonas 16a (ATCC PTA 2402), Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b (NRRL B-11,196), Methylosinus sporium (NRRL B-11,197), Methylocystis parvus (NRRL B-11,198), Methylomonas methanica (NRRL B-11,199), Methylomonas albus (NRRL B-11,200), Methylobacter capsulatus (NRRL B-11,201), Methylobacterium organophilum (ATCC 27,886), Methylomonas sp AJ-3670 (FERM P-2400), Methylocella silvestris, Methylocella palustris (ATCC 700799), Methylocella tundrae, Methylocystis daltona strain SB2, Methylocystis bryophila, Methylocapsa aurea KYG, Methylacidiphilum infernorum, Methylibium petroleiphilum, Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum, or a combination thereof. In certain related embodiments, the recombinant microorganism is a Methylococcus capsulatus Bath strain, Methylomonas 16a (ATCC PTA 2402), or Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum.

In further embodiments, the C₁ metabolizing microorganism or bacteria can metabolize natural gas, unconventional natural gas, or syngas. In certain embodiments, the syngas metabolizing bacteria include Clostridium autoethanogenum, Clostridium ljungdahli, Clostridium ragsdalei, Clostridium carboxydivorans, Butyribacterium methylotrophicum, Clostridium woodii, Clostridium neopropanologen, or a combination thereof.

In certain other embodiments, the metabolizing microorganism is an obligate C₁ metabolizing microorganism. In certain other embodiments, the metabolizing microorganism is a facultative C₁ metabolizing microorganism. In certain embodiments, the culture comprises a C₁ metabolizing microorganism that is a methanotroph and the culture further comprises one or more heterologous bacteria.

The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the patent and non-patent publications referred to in this specification or listed in the Application Data Sheet, including the disclosure of U.S. provisional application No. 61/928,349, filed Jan. 16, 2014, are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide further embodiments.

These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Conversion of Contaminated Gas Into Animal Feed Using a Methylotroph

Host cells (Methylococcus capsulatus Bath) are engineered to possess an exogenous hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (sir) gene to enable conversion of contaminated gas into biomass. A nucleic acid sequence encoding the SIR protein from Cyanidioschyzon merolae 10D (SEQ ID NO.:31) is codon optimized for introduction into M. capsulatus Bath. The sir nucleic acid molecule is cloned into an expression vector (encoding kanamycin resistance) for conjugation intoM. capsulatus Bath based on the methods reported by Ali and Murrell (Microbiology 155:761, 2009).

Briefly, a mobilizable plasmid containing a gene of interest (e.g., sir) operatively linked to a methanol dehydrogenase promoter (for constitutive expression), and encoding kanamycin resistance is first transformed into E. coli S17-1 using standard electroporation methods. Transformation is confirmed by selection of kanamycin-resistant colonies on Luria-Bertani (LB)-agar containing 30 μg/mL kanamycin. Transformed colonies are inoculated into LB media containing 30 μg/mL kanamycin and shaken overnight at 37° C. A 10 mL aliquot of the overnight culture is then collected on a sterile 47 mm nitrocellulose filter (0.2 mm pore size). The E. coli donor cells are washed on the filter with 50 mL sterile Higgins minimal nitrate salts medium (NSM; Cornish et al., J. Gen. Microbiol. 130:2565, 1984; Park et al., Biotechnol. Bioeng. 38:423, 1991)to remove residual media and antibiotic.

In parallel, a sample of the M. capsulatus Bath (NCIMB 11132) recipient strain is inoculated into 100 mL serum bottles containing 20-50 mL NSM media. The headspace of the bottles is then flushed with a 1:1 mixture of oxygen and methane, and the bottles are sealed with butyl rubber septa and crimped. The bottles are shaken continuously in a 45° C. incubator until reaching an OD₆₀₀ of approximately 0.3. The M. capsulatus Bath cells are then collected on the same filter as the E. coli donor strain. The filter is again washed with 50 mL of sterile NSM media. The filter is placed cell-side up on an NSM agar plate containing 0.2% yeast extract and incubated for 24 h at 37° C. in the presence of a 1:1 mixture of methane and air. After 24 h, cells are re-suspended in 10 mL sterile NSM medium before being concentrated by centrifugation. The harvested cells are re-suspended in 1 mL sterile NSM media. 100 μL aliquots of the re-suspended cells are spread onto NSM agar plates containing 10 μg/mL kanamycin.

The plates are incubated at 45° C. in sealed chambers containing a 1:1 mixture of methane and air. The gas mixture is replenished every 2 days until colonies form, typically after 7-14 days. Colonies are streaked onto NSM plates containing kanamycin to confirm kanamycin resistance and to further isolate transformed methanotroph cells from residual E. coli donor cells.

The presence of sir expression or SIR function is verified by one or more of (1) PCR and sequencing, (2) Western blot analysis, or (3) assaying for SIR activity. For example, to verify transfer, plasmid DNA is isolated and subjected to PCR using the Illustra PuReTaq Ready-To-Go™ PCR Beads (GE Healthcare) under standard conditions (95° C. for 5 min; 32 cycles of 95° C. for 30 s, 50° C. for 30 s, and 72° C. for 1 min; 72° C. for 10 min). As a further control, 1 μl of each of the isolated plasmids is transformed into E. coli XL1-Blue MRF' Kan (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.), and plasmids are isolated to verify the presence of the sir insert by restriction endonuclease digests.

The recombinant M. capsulatus Bath are cultured at 42° C. in serum bottles containing NSM or MM-W1 medium (0.8 mM MgSO₄*7H₂O, 10 mMNaNO₃, 0.14 mM CaCl₂, 1.2 mM NaHCO₃, 2.35 mM KH₂PO₄, 3.4 mM K₂HPO₄, 20.7 μM Na₂MoO₄*2H₂O, 1 μM CuSO₄*5H₂O, 10 μM Fe^(III)-Na-EDTA, and 1 mL per liter of trace metals solution (containing, per liter 500 mg FeSO₄*7H₂O, 400 mg ZnSO₄*7H₂O, 20 mg MnCl₂*7H₂O, 50 mg CoCl₂*6H₂O, 10 mg NiCl₂*6H₂O, 15 mg H₃BO₃, 250 mg EDTA)). The headspace composition is adjusted to a 1:1 volume of pure methane:air, or a 1:1 volume of contaminated natural gas:air. The bottles are shaken at a rate of 200-250 rpm. The growth of the non-recombinant control strains are compared to the SIR expressing strains. 

1.-125. (canceled)
 126. A recombinant methanotrophic or methylotrophic bacterium, comprising: (a) a first heterologous nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of metabolizing an S substrate selected from: (i) a hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfide: flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, sulfide: quinone oxidoreductase, sulfur dioxygenase, sulfite oxidase, or any combination thereof; (ii) a hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, sulfite oxidase, or both; (iii) a hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfite oxidase, or both; (iv) a sulfide:flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, sulfite oxidase, or both; (v) a sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase, sulfite oxidase, or both; and (vi) a hydrogen sulfide:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, hydrogen sulfide:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, sulfide: flavocytochrome-c oxidoreductase, or sulfide: quinone oxidoreductase, wherein endogenous sulfite oxidase activity of the bacterium is increased; and (b) a second heterologous nucleic acid molecule encoding a cysteine biosynthesis pathway, homocysteine biosynthesis pathway, or a methionine biosynthesis pathway, wherein: (i) the cysteine biosynthesis pathway comprises a cysteine synthase; (ii) the homocysteine biosynthesis pathway comprises an O-acetylhomoserine sulfhydrylase; and (iii) the methionine biosynthesis pathway comprises an O-acetylhomoserine sulfhydrylase and a methionine synthase or a homocysteine methyltransferase; wherein the recombinant methanotrophic or methylotrophic bacterium is capable of converting a feedstock comprising the S substrate and a C₁ substrate into the sulfur-containing amino acid and is capable of oxidizing or assimilating an increased amount of the S substrate as compared to wild-type methanotrophic or methylotrophic bacterium.
 127. The recombinant methanotrophic or methylotrophic bacterium according to claim 126, wherein the methanotrophic or methylotrophic bacterium is a methanotrophic bacterium.
 128. The recombinant methanotrophic or methylotrophic bacterium according to claim 127, wherein the methanotrophic bacterium is an obligate methanotrophic bacterium.
 129. The recombinant methanotrophic or methylotrophic bacterium according to claim 127, wherein the methanotrophic bacterium is Methylococcus capsulatus Bath, Methylomonas 16a, Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, Methylosinus sporium, Methylocystis parvus, Methylomonas methanica, Methylomonas albus, Methylobacter capsulatus, Methylobacterium organophilum, Methylomonas sp. AJ-3670, Methylocella silvestris, Methylocella palustris, Methylocella tundrae, Methylocystis daltona strain SB2, Methylocystis bryophila, Methylocapsa aurea KYG, Methylacidiphilum infernorum, or Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum.
 130. The recombinant methanotrophic or methylotrophic bacterium according to claim 127, wherein the methanotrophic bacterium is Methylococcus capsulatus Bath, Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, Methylomonas sp. 16a, Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum, or a high growth variant thereof.
 131. The recombinant methanotrophic or methylotrophic bacterium according to claim 127, wherein the recombinant methanotrophic bacterium is in a culture further comprising a heterologous bacterium.
 132. The recombinant methanotrophic or methylotrophic bacterium according to claim 126, wherein the methanotrophic or methylotrophic bacterium is a methylotrophic bacterium.
 133. The recombinant methanotrophic or methylotrophic bacterium according to claim 132, wherein the methylotrophic bacterium is Methylobacterium extorquens, Methylobacterium radiotolerans, Methylobacterium populi, Methylobacterium chloromethanicum, or Methylobacterium nodulans.
 134. The recombinant methanotrophic or methylotrophic bacterium according to claim 126, wherein the polypeptide capable of metabolizing the S substrate: (a) is encoded by a nucleic acid comprising the polynucleotide sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS.:21-54; (b) comprises the amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS.:55-88; (c) is a sulfur oxygenase; or (d) is a sulfur oxygenase having an amino acid sequence that is at least 75% identical to the sequence set forth in Genbank Accession No. AAK58572.1 or ABN04222.1, or a functional fragment thereof.
 135. The recombinant methanotrophic or methylotrophic bacterium according to claim 126, wherein the second heterologous nucleic acid molecule encodes the cysteine biosynthesis pathway comprising the cysteine synthase.
 136. The recombinant methanotrophic or methylotrophic bacterium according to claim 126, wherein the second heterologous nucleic acid molecule encodes the homocysteine biosynthesis pathway comprising the O-acetylhomoserine sulfhydrylase.
 137. The recombinant methanotrophic or methylotrophic bacterium according to claim 126, wherein the second heterologous nucleic acid molecule encodes the methionine biosynthesis pathway comprising the O-acetylhomoserine sulfhydrylase and the methionine synthase or the homocysteine methyltransferase.
 138. A method for producing a sulfur-containing amino acid from a tainted gas, the method comprising culturing a recombinant methanotrophic bacterium or methylotrophic bacterium according to claim 126 with a tainted gas feedstock, wherein the tainted gas feedstock comprises methane and an S substrate; wherein the methanotrophic bacterium or methylotrophic bacterium assimilates and oxidizes the methane and the S substrate, and converts the S substrate into the sulfur-containing amino acid selected from cysteine, homocysteine, or methionine.
 139. The method according to claim 138, wherein the tainted gas feedstock comprises natural gas, unconventional natural gas, casinghead gas, wellhead condensate, or any combination thereof.
 140. The method according to claim 138, wherein the recombinant methanotrophic bacterium or methylotrophic bacterium is a methanotrophic bacterium selected from Methylococcus capsulatus Bath, Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, Methylomonas sp. 16a, Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum, or a high growth variant thereof.
 141. A system for producing a sulfur-containing amino acid from a tainted gas, comprising: a source of tainted gas comprising methane and an S substrate; a bioreactor comprising a recombinant methanotrophic bacterium or methylotrophic bacterium according to claim 126; wherein the recombinant methanotrophic bacterium or methylotrophic bacterium cultured in the bioreactor converts the methane and the S substrate of the tainted gas into a sulfur-containing amino acid selected from cysteine, homocysteine, or methionine. 